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.