Customer Reviews

Crowned: An Ordinary Girl (Harlequin Romance)

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3 star:		(1)
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I honestly don't know what attracted me to this book. I do not like modern day stories about royalty, and the `ordinary girl becomes a princess' trope doesn't appeal to me at all. Made-up countries in contemporary fiction are one of my pet hates.

Yet somehow the book worked for me.

Sebastian was about to inherit his country's throne when - as a nineteen year old - he met eighteen year old Marianne. He fell in love with the English girl though it was not his intention to, and not once gave her any hint of his true identity. But then duty called, and he left her stranded in Paris, with not a word to let her know where he'd gone.
Only after a chain of awful events in Marianne's life did she - months later - discover `Seb's' true identity; when she saw a news story announcing his engagement to a `suitable' woman.
Ten years down the track they meet again purely by chance. Marianne has so, so many reasons to hate Sebastian, and the now single Sebastian has many, many reasons to believe a relationship between them now would be impossible. This is a relationship that's going to be hard work.

Perhaps it was the author's ability to keep things real, despite the outlandish premise, that made me like this story so much. We're not swamped with public royal events, and so the characters have time to show who they truly are. I wanted Seb to have to work hard for Marianne, and he did. I wanted the relationship to be a difficult choice for both of them, and it was. Because I honestly don't believe there're many people in this world who would actually enjoy the reality of becoming a princess. I wanted to see the bad side of it too, and the author allowed us to see this from the outset. It was - as far as fiction books about royalty go - a believable story.

Not a premise I'd go searching for on a regular basis, even so I was very pleasantly surprised by this emotional and enjoyable book.

Crowned: An Ordinary Girl by Natasha Oakley
Harlequin Romance # 3935 - February 2007
Series theme - By Royal Appointment

In France, as an eighteen year old innocent exchange student, Marianne had fallen head over heels in love with Seb Rodier. But as quickly as their love had come, it had all ended when Seb had disappeared from her life. It wasn't until months later that Marianne had seen Prince Sebastian's picture with his fiancée that she had finally known what had become of him. And now ten years later, Seb is back in her life and they find themselves falling in love again. But Seb is royalty, and the end of his marriage had been a huge scandal. Will his sovereignty survive should he marry a ordinary girl?

Oh what a lovely story! I cried for the innocent girl, Marianne had been and I championed the strong woman she had become. And what a Prince! Seb is irresistible. He had always thought of Marianne in the terms of all that he had had to give up, when at 20 he was forced to become the Sovereign Prince and marry. Now, learning what had become of Marianne when he had disappeared, he has come to realize that he had nearly destroyed her. This is a beautifully told story; deeply emotional and immensely satisfying. So wonderful, I immediately read it again!

Seb is a prince that meets Marianne in France when he was 19 years old. They had a five weeks fling and without telling her the true of his background. He disappears from her life, leaving her pregnant. After 10 years Marianne is been ask to go to Seb's country to deal with some historical pieces.

Will they be able to find love again after so many years?

This is an entertaining tale. The characters are well development however their relationship at the beginning of the book lacks of emotion. It is hard to believe that after 10 years of not seeing each other Seb and Marianne will act so normal and properly. There is something else missing there.

Seb is a cold hero and that probably has to do with the fact that princes are raised to deal with emotions. In the other hand Marianne is portrayed as a very independent woman, but she didn't have the strong temperament to match that description.

This is a good read tough, fast and entertaining with a fairy tale ending. I'll give it a 3 star because of the lack of emotion at the beginning of the book. I have read many adults fairy tales and I guess it hard to impress me. However if you keep up with the first 40 pages of the book, you will end enjoying the book.

If you like to read other adults fairy tales I recommend " Persuading the Play Boy king by Kristi Gold", "His Majesty, M.D. by Leanne Banks", Tall, Dark and Royal by Leanne Banks", " Ruling Passions by Laura Wright"

Have fun reading!