Review: "The Cinderella Princess" by Melissa McClone (Royal Holiday #1)

Note: This ARC was provided by Tule Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Emily Rodgers is an ad executive that's been sent to the small European nation of Alvernia for damage control on a reality show entitled The Search for Cinderella. This isn't exactly her field but her boss' wife is the head of the production company behind the show and what her boss' wife wants, she gets, even if that means having her husband's employees pulling double duty. Emily's main reason for agreeing is the dream of finally being made partner, something that's been long postponed by her boss. She's a team player and she'll do her best to fix whatever needs to be fixed...but then she meets Prince Luc.

His Royal Highness Lucas Alexander Leopold Casimir von Rexburg is the youngest child in his family, making him neither the heir or the spare, and has been pressured by his father to find a wife. He's agreed to take part in this reality show that lines up royalty, a pre-requisite as far his father is concerned, deemed suitable to be his wife. If he isn't engaged in a few weeks, he'll be stripped of his title and his allowance, something he wouldn't really care about, but the money he receives goes to something far more important than the parties, dalliances, and vices he's been accused of engaging in for far too many years.

When Emily first encounters Prince Luc, she's already made up her mind about what kind of person he is, but then realizes just how wrong she is when he shares with her a secret he's been keeping. She encourages him to use that secret to help bolster his reputation and to help bring in more good PR for the show. However, Luc refuses, and Emily complies with his wishes. As she does her job of finding better royalty for Luc to take on dates, they begin to develop feelings for one another. But Emily is a commoner and Luc has always put duty first. Are Emily and what they have worth sacrificing everything Luc has?

The Cinderella Princess is the first novella in the Royal Holiday series by Melissa McClone and was a super quick read. It was a sweet read about a no-nonsense workaholic of an ad executive and a charming prince, but both are more than what they seem. The tale of a royal and a commoner is something that's been written about many times over and isn't as foreign as it used to be (i.e. Charles and Diana, William and Kate). The idea of an actual prince agreeing to take part in a search for his royal wife may seem far-fetched but Luc's reasons show him as a sensitive and self-sacrificing type of young man.

The pacing was fast and while this wasn't a case of insta-love, the speed in which Luc and Emily fell in love does seem a bit far-fetched. But then, this is a novella and sometimes, things have to go much faster because of the limited number of pages. At least everything didn't develop in just a day or two and the fact that they were together all the time can be considered a factor as well. If you're looking for something short but sweet, The Cinderella Princess would be a good pick. It'll make you want your very own prince to sweep you off your feet, but then who's never wished for that before? ^.^ Four stars! ♥

Release Date: 02 April 2015

Date Read: 02 April 2015

Learn more about Melissa McClone here.

Purchase The Cinderella Princess on Kobo.