Review - - Claiming the Princess

Claiming the Princess

by Charis Michaels

Hidden Royals - Book 3

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: October 28, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

Princess Danielle Allard d’Orleans grew up believing that she was a simple village girl raised in Kent by surrogate parents. That simple life vanishes when she discovers she’s actually a princess in hiding— especially as the first order of royal business is to marry a war hero she’s never met.

Captain Luke Bannock wasn’t trying to become a hero—and even less so, a husband. But he shows selfless courage in a fierce Naval battle and the Crown offers him a reward for valor. His chosen prize? The hand in marriage of an obscure princess, living in exile. The reason? Revenge against his sworn enemy.

What begins as an arranged marriage between a village girl and a cynical captain evolves into dance of passion and self-discovery. As Luke helps Dani reckon with her secret royal blood, his thirst for revenge is replaced by desire for his new wife. The shock and hurt burn away, and an all-consuming love sails this fated couple into their happily ever after.

PJ's Thoughts:

Charis Michaels never fails to deliver an immersive reading experience with atypical settings, multi-layered characters, and intriguing, original storylines that keep me engaged from start to finish. Her newest book, Claiming the Princess, concludes her Hidden Royals trilogy with a story that pulled me in and refused to let go until I had turned the final page. 

I do love a tortured hero. Enter Captain Luke Bannock, smuggler, part-time courier for the Crown, and reluctant public hero. Luke has one goal: to rescue his surrogate father from French captivity and avenge the brutal deaths of his crew. The key to accomplishing both? An exiled French princess living in a small English village. He's certain she will be thrilled to be returned to her rightful, pampered position in French aristocracy. I mean, she's a princess, right? Poor Luke has no idea what he's actually signed up for or all the ways in which this unexpected woman is going to impact his plans. 

Princess Danielle Allard d’Orleans is English to her bones. A young woman from a small village in Kent, Dani's primary concerns are her adoptive parents, her friends, and saving her village from unscrupulous men with too much money. Dani has no idea that she's a princess. She doesn't even know that she's French. And, why in the world would the King even be aware of her existence, let alone insist she marry a national hero? An attractive, intelligent, appealing, bent on revenge, national hero? 

This book checked all of my happy reader boxes. I love the slow-burn romance between Luke and Dani, first as they get to know one another in Kent, then through their letters while they are apart. The letters are an especially effective method of allowing feelings to deepen as they gradually open their hearts and minds to one another. I loved watching them slowly discover not only their love for each other but also the path each is destined to follow. Their engaging journey from strangers to love is brimming with emotional depth, sparkling banter, unexpected surprises, action, danger, and a hard-won happy ending. I was with them every step of the way. 

Michaels has crafted a supporting cast who only add to the richness and complexity of the overall story. Fans of the series will no doubt enjoy seeing Dani reunite with her siblings while also celebrating the found family that means so much to both Dani and Luke. They all contributed to laughter, tears, and several tugs on my heartstrings.

While I enjoyed all three books in this series and am happy I read them in order (I'm weird about that), those new to the series need not worry about beginning with Claiming the Princess. All three books stand well on their own and all have my enthusiastic recommendation. 

Review - - The Prince's Bride

The Prince's Bride

by Charis Michaels

Hidden Royals - Book 2

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: May 21, 2024

Reviewed by PJ

Lady Marianne “Ryan” Daventry was betrothed to an obscure French prince when she was just a baby. Years later, the young prince entered exile and was never heard from again. Lady Ryan considers the betrothal off; she can hardly marry a dead man. Now another French royal has inherited the princedom and he claims the old betrothal still stands—with himself as the bridegroom. Rather than fight the cruel new prince, Lady Ryan sets out to reveal him as an imposter. She needs only to locate the original lost prince and prove he’s still alive.

Prince Gabriel d’Orleans is still living, but he’s very difficult to find. He goes by the name of Gabriel Reign and lives in the forest, working as a horse trainer for wealthy clients. He’s hardly a pauper, but he’s also not a prince. His life in the woods conceals his true identity and keeps him safe—but also alone.

Using an old childhood letter as her only guide, Lady Ryan sets out for Savernake Forest to find the missing prince. When danger thrusts them together unexpectedly, Lady Ryan is shocked at his rustic life and his commitment to his new identity. More shocking is her fierce attraction to the rugged horseman. Meanwhile, Gabriel never planned to be discovered and he certainly never planned on falling in love. But passion has a way of upending the most careful of plans, and even the strictest boundaries are no match for a love story that is meant to be.

PJ's Thoughts:

I had a hard time putting this one down. Charis Michaels kicks things off with a bang (actually, it's a scream) that throws Gabriel and Ryan together and into an inevitable journey that held me spellbound from start to finish. 

There's so much to love about this book, beginning - and ending - with Gabriel and Ryan. He's a loner (for good reasons), rarely leaving the safety of the forest. She's determined to drag him into the open. He lives in a cave. There's only one bed. And a waterfall. She'll do whatever it takes to save her family. He only wants her gone. But he also wants her. It's a no-win situation. Or, is it?

I loved the chemistry between these two but more so the tenderness that grows as they begin to know one another as adults. Gabriel is such a complex, decent man, sweet and innocent in some ways while strong and determined in others. He has, after all, been living a reclusive life for many years. Ryan, a strong, competent woman who has always put others first, is fierce in her determination to save her family but will she do so at the expense of this man who has been through so much already? The deep conversations between them are heart-tugging. The care that develops - on both sides - seems inevitable and only makes their journey more compelling and endearing. The love and assistance that comes from unexpected sources fills their lives with laughter, hope, and the long-awaited joy of reunion. And the final scene encompasses all of my swoony, big girl, fairytale dreams.  

I'm not sure I've ever read a story quite like this before. It's fresh, fun, heartwarming, romantic, deeply emotional, and checked all of my happy reader buttons. Fans of book one in the series, Say Yes to the Princess, should enjoy seeing Elise (Gabriel's sister), Killian, and their growing family while readers new to the series should have no trouble beginning with The Prince's Bride, if that's their preference. I, however, am glad I read the books in order and am already looking forward to discovering what happened to their youngest sister in book three. 

Review - - Say Yes to the Princess

Say Yes to the Princess

by Charis Michaels

Hidden Royals - Book 1

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: July 11, 2023

Reviewed by PJ

A hidden princess…

Princess Regine Elise Adelaide d’Orleans is no longer a princess, but she’s also no commoner. She’s obscure French royalty, exiled to England in the aftermath of the revolution. She lives as a glorified houseguest of the British Royal family, guarded and gilded, but also trapped.

The cynical outcast…

Mr. Killian Crewes serves as the “Royal Fixer” in St. James’s Palace, making messy situations disappear. As the second son of an earl, cleaning up indiscretions was hardly Killian’s goal in life, but his mother’s notoriety makes him less of a peer, and more a member of staff.

A royal scandal…

When Princess Elise spots her long-lost brother in a crowded market, she's determined to find him. But her search puts the palace in an uncomfortable position, and they hire Killian to seduce the princess to distract her from meddling. Except, no one anticipated that Killian would be the one seduced instead. Now he’s risking everything for the lonely princess—his job, her reputation, and both of their hearts.

PJ's Thoughts:

If you're not reading Charis Michaels, you're missing out on sparkling conversation, endearing, well-developed characters, infectious humor, adventure, and heart-tugging romance, all of which are front and center in her newest book, Say Yes to the Princess. 

There are so many things to love about this story. First are Killian and Elise. As the "Royal Fixer," I expected Killian to be the rescuer in this relationship and, yes, there are instances when he does come to the princess's rescue. What I did not expect was that the princess would also be his rescuer, in situations where both his physical and emotional well-being were at stake. 

Killian has many layers to reveal and deep-seated emotional baggage to overcome. He's a charmer who excels at his job but he meets his match when he's tasked with distracting Elise. Despite his best efforts, he grows increasingly smitten with Elise, developing deep, genuine feelings for her. His core of honor keeps him from acting on those feelings but he soon learns the princess has other ideas and a will of iron. Really, he never stood a chance.  

Elise also has emotional baggage, rooted in the events that precipitated her escape from France and then nurtured by ten years of exile in England's royal palace that can best be described as an emotional void. It was so satisfying to watch her re-engage with the world around her. She's outspoken, opinionated, and determined to discover what has happened to her siblings, regardless of obstacles put in front of her but she's also kind, loyal, and compassionate.  She's falling hard and fast for Killian and determined to fight for him...and them. 

These two were so easy to cheer for. I enjoyed them immensely but I also enjoyed their supporting cast of characters. Particular favorites include Killian's family, a mish-mash of individuals who he insists are not his family though he takes both financial and emotional responsibility for them while still holding himself apart (some of that emotional baggage I mentioned) and Elise's best friend, confidante, and protector, Sister Marie. 

If you're looking for a charming, adventurous, historical romance with a fresh, intriguing plot and a feel-good happily ever after, add Say Yes to the Princess to your summer reading list. I highly recommend it. 

Review - - When You Wish Upon a Duke

When You Wish Upon a Duke

by Charis Michaels

Awakened by a Kiss - Book 2

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: August 24, 2021

Reviewed by PJ

All it takes….

After a childhood spent cavorting around Europe with a dangerous crowd, Miss Isobel Tinker has parlayed her experience and language skills into a safe, reliable life. Working as a clerk in Mayfair’s Everland Travel Shop, she dreams of someday owning her own travel agency and has vowed never to leave the familiar shores of England ever again. When a handsome duke arrives at her doorstep, she realizes her staid existence is about to take flight.

…is faith and hope

Jason “North” Beckett, the Duke of Northumberland, desperately needs a travel guide. He’s inherited a dukedom but has a final mission for the Foreign Office—rescuing his wayward cousin from Nordic pirates. Isobel Tinker is the ideal translator, discreet and unknown, but she’s also uncooperative, stubborn, and disarmingly beautiful.

And a little bit of trust

In exchange for her help, North promises Miss Tinker her own travel agency upon return and strict professionalism at sea. Isobel cautiously agrees but soon realizes “strict” and “professional” are not how she would describe her feelings for the irresistible duke. As their adventure sweeps them to the shores of Iceland and beyond, can temptation and growing trust give way to the magic of wild, passionate love?

PJ's Thoughts:

Maybe it's because Peter Pan was my favorite holiday television special when I was a child, or because I couldn't get enough of Disney's Peter Pan's Flight ride that carried me off into the magical world of Neverland. Maybe it's because I was thoroughly captivated the first time I saw Tinkerbell sweep through the night sky, sprinkling fairy dust as she flew overhead. Or maybe it all comes down to Charis Michaels' charismatic writing and spellbinding storytelling. Whatever the reason, once I started reading this fresh, original, and thoroughly entertaining historical romance inspired by Tinkerbell and other characters from Peter Pan, I couldn't put it down. Michaels snagged my interest almost immediately, then took me on a twisty adventure from England to Iceland and back again, weaving together an unlikely romance between two intriguing characters. Is it a bit over the top at times? Yes. Did I care? Not in the least. 

Isobel and North are both fully fleshed characters whose personalities and back stories gradually unfurl as their journey progresses. I love that both of them turn out to be so much more complex than they seem at first appearance, with intriguing layers as well as surprising strengths and weaknesses, and a few twists I wasn't expecting. The chemistry between them sparks almost immediately, leading to wonderfully delicious friction, tension, and snappy banter. No easy road for these two but what a fun, adventure-filled, and thoroughly satisfying journey. 

The nods to elements from Peter Pan, seamlessly woven into the story, felt like a delightful gift each and every time I stumbled upon them. And the characters inspired by Peter, Hook, Tinkerbell and more, while all true to their time, place, and part in this story, still honored those earlier characters from whom many of their characteristics were taken. 

You know those books that charm you, enthrall you, and make your heart flutter with glorious butterflies? This is one of those books. It's an adventurous, heartwarming, happily ever after that pays homage to one of my favorite characters who never got a happy ending - until now - in a way that made me laugh, cheer, sigh, cheer some more, and pretty much grin from beginning to end. It's going straight to my keeper shelf where it's destined to become one of my comfort reads, a story I can revisit whenever I need an infusion of joy. 

Review & Giveaway - - A Duchess a Day

A Duchess a Day

by Charis Michaels

Awakened by a Kiss - Book 1

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: November 10, 2020

Reviewed by PJ

An heiress with a plan…

Lady Helena Lark has spent years trying to escape her wedding to the vain and boring Duke of Lusk. She’s evaded, refused, even run away. When her family’s patience runs out, they pack her off to London to walk down the aisle. But Helena has another idea: find a more suitable bride to take her place, even if she must look for a replacement duchess every day.

 

A bodyguard with a job to do…

Declan Shaw, better known as “The Huntsman,” is a mercenary who can pick and choose his clientele. After his last job, escorting a young noblewoman to France, landed him in jail under false accusations, he wants nothing to do with aristocrats or women. But the law isn’t done with him, and if he agrees to babysit a duke’s errant fiancé, the payout could make his legal troubles go away.

 

A most unexpected alliance…

When their worlds collide, Declan realizes that containing his new client is only slightly harder than keeping his hands off her. Helena senses an ally in her handsome new bodyguard and solicits his help. Together they must escape the forces that oppose them and fight for the fairy-tale love they desire.

PJ's Thoughts:

I adored this book! It's smart, witty, endearing, adventurous, sensual, heart-tugging, funny, feel-good, and all those other adjectives that check my happy reader boxes. Once I began reading I couldn't put it down; I didn't want to put it down. 

Helena is one of my favorite romance heroines this year. I admired her determination, reveled in her deliciously devious mind, cheered her on as she continued to fight against the miserable fate everyone else thought she should be delighted to accept, and melted with her as her heart recognized its mate in the least acceptable person possible. 

And that brings us to Declan. Talk about being caught between a rock and a hard place. His struggle was real and had my heart aching for him, even as I couldn't help but laugh at the predicaments Helena landed them in, sigh at the growing passion between them, and wonder how in the world they were going to find a way out of the entanglement in which they were caught. He was a perfect "Huntsman" who tickled my fancy and captured my heart.

The pace never slowed in this addictive, grown-up fairy tale that had me laughing, sighing, and shedding a few tears for good measure. I love romances inspired by fairy tales and using a secondary character who never got a happy ending as the hero of a new story is such an intriguing premise. Add in the cast of supporting characters, the very clever duchesses-a-day, a loathsome, string-pulling villain, and a surprising savior, and you have a top-notch historical romance that filled me with joy and has me eagerly anticipating more Awakened by a Kiss stories from Charis Michaels.

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What's your favorite fairy tale?

Do you have a favorite romance inspired by a fairy tale?

Have you read Charis Michaels yet? (If not, A Duchess a Day is a great place to begin!)

One randomly chosen person posting a comment before 11:00 PM, November 18 will receive a print copy of A Duchess a Day. 

*Must be 18

*U.S. addresses only

Today's Special - - Charis Michaels' One For the Rogue Excerpt Tour, Q&A, and Giveaway.

Charis Michaels is thrilled to be making her debut with Avon Impulse. Prior to writing romance, she studied Journalism at Texas A & M and managed PR for a trade association. She has also worked as a tour guide at Disney World, harvested peaches on her family’s farm, and entertained children as the “Story Godmother” at birthday parties. She has lived in Texas, Florida, and London, England. She now makes her home in the Washington, D.C.-metro area.

Author Links:   WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS
Website:  http://charismichaels.com/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/charismichaelsauthor/

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/CharisMichaels

GoodReads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14174160.Charis_Michaels

Pre-Made Tasty Q&A

Can you tell us a little about your book?

Well, this is sort of a reverse My-Fair-Lady story.  The heroine is a young dowager duchess who has been trained since girlhood in manners and decorum. Through a series of hopeless circumstances, she is is charged with giving lessons on how to be “proper” to the roguish hero. He, however, has something else in mind for their instruction. The story revolves around the reluctant relationship that develops and their journey to love.

Name three things on your desk right now.

My Mrs. Daryl Dixon coffee mug, naturally.

An old Dollywood brochure (I got ‘the call’ at Dollywood!).

The lid to a stationary set that says, “Write a little happiness into the world.”  The stationary is long gone, but I keep the lid because I love the design/message so much.

What are some books that you enjoyed recently?

Another wonderful question! I adore talking books!

The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

Eligible by Curtis Suttenfeld

The Twelve Days of Christmas by Debbie Macomber

Hot in Hellcat Canyon by Julie Anne Long

What do you like to do when you aren't writing?

Well, to be honest, my favorite thing to do when I truly have nothing else to do is go to a discount retailer such as Marshall’s or TJMaxx and simply browse all of the cheap things I did not know I needed until I dug for them at the bottom of the clearance rack.

A la Twitter style, please describe your book in 140 characters or less.

Bad boy transformed by the love of a good woman.  In Regency England.  At Christmas. And it’s funny.  😀

What types of scenes are your most favorite to write?

Dialogue-heavy scenes when the hero and heroine are in love but at least one of them is fighting it!

In the opening of the book, the hero lives on a dilapidated “narrowboat” on a canal in London.  I lived in London for a time, just across Regents Park from Camden Lock. Camden was not yet a lock or a canal in 1813, but I was inspired by it and researched until I discovered Paddington Lock had just been formed.  And that is where I docked the hero’s boat.

Are there certain characters you would like to go back to, or is there a theme or idea you’d love to work with?

Oh, I’ll eventually be back for dear Miss Breedlowe, I promise!

Can you tell us about your upcoming book?

Oh yes – I’m happy to share that I just signed a contract with Avon-Impulse for my next series: The Brides of Belgravia!  This is a trilogy featuring two young men from the Bachelor Lords of London, Jon Stoker, and Joseph Chance--all grown up. (The London neighborhood of Belgravia was developed in 1831).  I’m writing Book 1 now, and it’s so much fun.  The expected release date is October 2017.  Thank you for asking!

One for the Rogue
The Bachelor Lords of London #3

By: Charis Michaels

Releasing December 6, 2016
Avon Impulse

The third dazzling romance in USA Today bestselling author Charis Michaels' Bachelor Lords of London series.

Beauregard “Beau” Cortland has no use for the whims of society and even less for aristocratic titles. As a younger son, he travels the world in search of adventure with no plans to settle down. Even when the title of Viscount Rainsleigh is suddenly forced upon him, he will not bend to duty or decorum. Not until an alluring young woman appears on the deck of his houseboat, determined to teach him propriety in all things and tempting him with every forbidden touch

Lady Emmaline Crumbley has had a wretched year. Her elderly husband dropped dead without naming her in his will and she’s been relegated to the life of a dowager duchess at the age of 23. She has no wish to instruct a renegade viscount in respectability, but desperate to escape her greedy stepson, Beau’s family makes her an offer she cannot refuse: teach the new lord to behave like a gentleman, and they’ll help her earn the new, self-sufficient life of her dreams. Emmaline agrees, only to discover that instructing the viscount is one thing, but resisting him is quite another. How can she teach manners to the rakish nobleman if he is determined to show her the thrill of scandal instead?

Excerpt #1

Prologue

This is the tale of two brothers.

No, allow me to go back. This is the tale of two half brothers, a distinction that does not affect the brothers as much as it creates a place for the story to begin.

They were born deep in Wiltshire’s Deverill Valley, less than a mile from the River Wylye, in a crumbling manor house called Rossmore Court.

Although the Rainsleigh title was ancient and the family lands entailed, the boys’ parents, Lord Franklin “Frankie” Courtland, the Viscount Rainsleigh, and his lady wife, Este, were not held in high esteem—not by their neighbors in Wiltshire nor by members of London’s haute ton. Instead, they were known mostly for their predilections: recklessness, coarseness, drunkenness, irresponsibility, and deep debt.

Their notoriety did not curtail their fun, however, and they carried on exactly as they pleased. In 1779, the viscountess became pregnant, and Lord and Lady Rainsleigh added “woefully unfit parents” to their list of indiscretions. Their firstborn was called Bryson—the future viscount, Lord Rainsleigh’s heir. Young Bryson was somber and curious, stormy and willful, but also inexplicably just and kind.

In 1785, Este and Frankie welcomed a second son, favored almost immediately by his mother for his sweet nature and easy manner, his angelic face and smiling blue eyes. The viscountess named him Beauregard, known as “Beau.”

On the whole, the boys’ childhood was not a happy one. Lord Rainsleigh was rarely at home, and when he was, he was rarely sober. He managed the boys with equal parts mockery and scorn. Lady Rainsleigh, in turn, was chronically unhappy, petulant, and needy, and she suffered an insatiable appetite for strapping young men, with a particular preference for broad-shouldered members of staff.

Money was scarce in those years, and schooling was catch-as-catch-can. The brothers relied on each other to get along.

Bryson’s hard work and good sense earned them money for new coats and boots each year, for books, and for an old horse that they shared.

Beau employed his good looks and charm to earn them credit in the village shops, to convince foremen to hire them young, and to persuade servants and tenants to stay on when there was no money for salaries or repairs.

And so it went, each of the boys contributing whatever he could to get by, until the summer of 1807, when the old viscount’s recklessness caught up with him, and he tripped on a root in a riverbed and died.

With Frankie’s death, Bryson, the new viscount, set out to right all the wrongs of his father and cancel the family’s debts. He moved to London, where he worked hard, built and sold a boat, and then another, and then another—and then five. And then fifteen. Eventually, he owned a shipyard and became wealthier than his wildest dreams.

Beau, on the other hand . . .

Well, Beau had no interest in righting wrongs or realizing moneyed dreams—he wasn’t the Rainsleigh heir, thank God. His only wish was to take his handsome face and winning charm and discover the delights of London and the world beyond.

For a time, he sailed the world as an officer of the Royal Navy. For another time, he imported exotic birds and fish. He spent more than a year with the East India Company, training native soldiers to protect British trade. His life was adventurous and rambling, sunny if he could manage it, and (perhaps most important) entirely on his own terms.

Until, that is, the day the Courtland brothers received, quite unexpectedly, a bit of shocking news that changed both of their lives.

The news, which they learned from a stranger, was this: the boys did not share the same father.

The horrible old viscount—the man who had beaten them and mocked them, who had driven them into debt and allowed their boyhood home to fall into ruin—was not, in fact, Bryson’s father after all. Bryson’s father was another man—a blacksmith’s son from the local village with whom their mother had had a heated affair.

Beau, as it turned out, was the only natural-born son of Franklin Courtland.

Beau was the heir.

And just like that, Beauregard Courtland became the Viscount Rainsleigh, the conservator and executor of all his brother had toiled over a great many years to restore and attain.

It made no difference that Beau had no desire to be viscount, that he was repelled by the notion, that the idea of becoming viscount made him a little ill.

In protest, Beau threatened to leave the country; he threatened to change his name; he threatened to commit a crime and endure prison to avoid the bloody title—all to no avail.

He was the rightful Viscount Rainsleigh, whether he liked it or not.

His brother, now simply Mr. Bryson Courtland, shipbuilder and merchant, set out on a new quest: to train, coach, and cajole Beau into becoming the responsible, noble, respected viscount that he himself would never be again.

To answer that, Beau seized his own quest: resist. He could not prevent his brother from dropping the bloody title in his lap, but he could refuse to dance to the tune the title played.

He would carry on, he vowed, exactly as he had always done—until . . . well . . .

“Until” is where this tale begins.

But perhaps this is not a tale of two brothers or even the tale of two half brothers.

Perhaps it is the story of one brother and how the past he could not change built a future that he, at long last, was willing to claim.

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