Veena’s review of Princess’s Secret Baby by Carol Marinelli
Contemporary Romance published by Harlequin Presents 17 Feb 15
Leila wanted to make a statement and she did by having a drink in the bar of the hotel and hooking up with a handsome guy she met in the bar. Little did she know that her one act of rebellion would leave her pregnant and estranged from her family. Fortunately for her, or fortunate that James Chatsfield is willing to own up and take responsibility for the child. Secret this baby definitely is not, since it’s splashed on the front page of all the newspapers, but it still remains to be seen if this is good news or…
Leila lives up to the very definition of helpless princess. She’s is totally clueless on how to take care of herself and is definitely arrogant with the hired help. Her parents’ treatment of her is really sad, and while I empathize for the need to make a stand and experiment with the luxuries she’s been deprived of, I really feel her behavior is really out there.
James is a bad boy in all ways. The last thing he wants is responsibility, and yet when it’s thrust on him, he rises to the challenge in more ways than one. The dinner with his parents is quite illuminating. They sure care less about their son or Leila’s blue blood than they do about their own needs.
The story is a bit too far fetched for me and particularly Leila’s character is too overblown and dramatic to attract the average reader. Can parents really act the way Leila’s parents act? I was a bit disconcerted with them and even her brother, who supposedly loves her but is willing to abandon her to her own devices for the sake of his pride. It’s a good thing James comes through for Leila; otherwise, I’m not sure how she would have managed.
Grade: C
Summary:
A Princess for the Playboy
The Princess of Surhaadi is desperate to escape a life lived in the shadows of her family’s past. One misguided night of rebellion later and Leila’s world comes crashing down thanks to two little blue lines on the pregnancy test!
When James Chatsfield—world-renowned bad boy and soon-to-be father —hears the shocking news, he knows he needs to act, and fast! He’ll propose to protect his heir, but will Leila ever believe he sees her as more than just the mother of his child?
No excerpt available.
