

Can Jamie, the playboy prince, reform his scandalous ways and become the proper heir to the throne that his father expects him to be? Fleeing the paparazzi, he escapes to quiet Provence. There, Jamie is content to leave the limelight behind and disguises himself as an average tourist. He determines to succumb to his parents' wishes and Mary Astrid, The Swedish ice princess. But a chance encounter with a beautiful - strangely familiar - woman with secrets of her own threatens to undermine his resolve. When an international terrorist incident unmasks them both for the Royals they are, more than their new found passion is in jeopardy. Just when they finally see beneath each other's public personas, will duty and danger force them apart? Previously published as Before the Reign. Review: No escaping destiny - Jamie and Astrid are the heirs to their respective thrones and that responsibility has not sat lightly for either of them. Astrid, of Sweden, has borne her destiny with stoic dignity, to the point that she appears haughty and cold. Jamie, Prince of Wales, has fought his at every turn, including the fact that both sets of parents would love nothing better than to see these two marry, even though they don't even like each other. After another wasted evening leading to another press scandal Jamie goes to France for a vacation. To escape the press he assumes a French alter ego. Astrid, also visiting in the same town, darkens her hair and becomes Amelia. Meeting as strangers without their previously held preconceived notions is a revelation and when their true identities are revealed both must come to terms with the attraction and destiny. Having read the other three books in the series, it was a pleasure to see Jamie in a more positive light. The book has humor, heat, and danger. I found this to be a most enjoyable story and I look forward to book 5. Review: A worthy addition to Molly Jameson's Royal Romances - I've loved all of Molly Jameson's Royal Romances books and this is definitely a strong addition to the series. One of the things I really love about the series is that despite the "alternate universe" where a different royal family rules the United Kingdom, the books still give me the strong sense of realism, that they present what it must really be like to be in the British royal family. The fact that there are no make believe countries here (unlike so many other novels involving royals) only adds to that. Add that on top of believable H and h and a superb (and well developed) supporting cast, plus a really well written romance, and this book easily deserves 4 stars. (Many will likely give it 5 but I'm particularly stingy on stars - so please take that into account.) Lots of fun and a nice HEA. Highly recommended. If you like these sort of romances at all I know you will enjoy it.
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T**S
No escaping destiny
Jamie and Astrid are the heirs to their respective thrones and that responsibility has not sat lightly for either of them. Astrid, of Sweden, has borne her destiny with stoic dignity, to the point that she appears haughty and cold. Jamie, Prince of Wales, has fought his at every turn, including the fact that both sets of parents would love nothing better than to see these two marry, even though they don't even like each other. After another wasted evening leading to another press scandal Jamie goes to France for a vacation. To escape the press he assumes a French alter ego. Astrid, also visiting in the same town, darkens her hair and becomes Amelia. Meeting as strangers without their previously held preconceived notions is a revelation and when their true identities are revealed both must come to terms with the attraction and destiny. Having read the other three books in the series, it was a pleasure to see Jamie in a more positive light. The book has humor, heat, and danger. I found this to be a most enjoyable story and I look forward to book 5.
T**R
A worthy addition to Molly Jameson's Royal Romances
I've loved all of Molly Jameson's Royal Romances books and this is definitely a strong addition to the series. One of the things I really love about the series is that despite the "alternate universe" where a different royal family rules the United Kingdom, the books still give me the strong sense of realism, that they present what it must really be like to be in the British royal family. The fact that there are no make believe countries here (unlike so many other novels involving royals) only adds to that. Add that on top of believable H and h and a superb (and well developed) supporting cast, plus a really well written romance, and this book easily deserves 4 stars. (Many will likely give it 5 but I'm particularly stingy on stars - so please take that into account.) Lots of fun and a nice HEA. Highly recommended. If you like these sort of romances at all I know you will enjoy it.
M**V
Not bad, but not OMG can't put it down either
Have read the entire series and while they are all decent reads, and well written, I have no problem putting it down to go to bed or work. I don't think any of these characters are particularly complex or all that interesting, but I did generally enjoy the stories.
M**7
Great series of books
Loved this book and series. It's about the fictious royal family in Englans, with the trails of all the royal children, their fights for the people they love with a few scandals thrown in to make the books enjoyable to read.
G**E
Read1
I have Read all 4 books and I am pleased to say I have enjoyed them all. I have a feeling that there will be more books in this series. I cannot wait for more.
G**E
Good twist and serendipity, but the ending was somewhat lame
Jamie, the British "playboy" prince, was scandalized when a party he attended ended up being raided by police (but after he left) for drugs. The British royal family was also pushing him to marry Princess Astrid of Sweden ASAP. To escape the media attention, he hid out in Provence, France, having flown alone without security, and in disguise, and paid a cabbie generously to put himself up with his family. After all, in Provence, if he adopts a French accent and a French name "Jean-Luc" (which is his cabbie's name), no one would recognize him... What he did not know was Princess Astrid was also in Provence... visiting a married best friend... Astrid felt choked by her royal life, but she's next on the throne, and her people needs her. She doesn't want the British playboy prince. When her best friend decided she needs to go out more and decided to give her a disguise with dyed hair and more, she met a handsome Frenchman in the park by the name of Jean-Luc... and she adopted the name Amalie, (actually her goddaughter's name) And they spent some wonderful time together. When a terrorist attack on the Swedish Royal family killed one member of the parliament and seriously wounded the King, both Jamie and Astrid revealed themselves to each other... and both are surprised... Moreover, Jamie insisted on staying in Sweden to help Astrid through the crisis... However, the attacks are too well coordinated for the intelligence community to have NEVER even gotten a hint... could this be an internal job? Is there a traitor in Sweden close to the royal family? The villain ended up being a caricature, though the plot and twist are pretty decent, which I am not spoiling. The motivation made it really lame.
K**M
A good escape read!
I have read all four novels of the Royal Romance series so far and have enjoyed all of them. My favorite part is that Molly Jameson describes art and architecture that i look up as I'm reading. I've learned a great deal about world sites such as the "Queen of the Lake" or the "Pont du Gard" through these books. If you want a fun, happy ever after story, pick up this book and all the others in the "The Royal Romances" series!
K**E
Each book is as captivating as the next!
Loved this book as much as the previous books in the series. It was a quick read and very hard to put down. I love that the series keeps continuing with each sibling. I have read all four in just a few days and I hate that I now am caught up and have to wait for the next one. Love this family and Lee thinking I won't like the next book as much as the previous one but I am surprised each time when I end up loving each sibling's story!
B**D
Royalty Reigns ๐ ๐
Another royalty book, one that is a reasonable read. Two crown royals, destined to an arranged marriage actually meet while they disguise themselves as commoners. The connection is there & sparks fly. However when a terrorist issue arises Jamie comes to the aid of Astrid. Then issues develop due to his playboy ways. Well we hope for a HEA. You'll have to read it to find out.
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