I’m not sure which I enjoyed more, the heroine’s fiery response to discovering she’d been on a date with a prince or a big tough military man’s soft spot for scones.

Nursing a broken heart and helping out a father-figure by waiting tables and baking scones at his diner, Maddie isn’t interested in romance, still, she does long for a bit of adventure, so what’s the harm in showing a tourist around her small Oregon town when he’ll be gone in a matter of days? But, as the title tells you, Ward is a prince and he’s in the market for a convenient bride, so Maddie’s harmless flirtation just might prove more complicated than she bargained on.

As far as character arcs go, I felt like this was more Ward’s story than Maddie’s. Although Maddie has some hopes for her baking and for saving her hometown, there isn’t much focus on the process of her striving for those things, still, she’s every bit as interesting and entertaining as Ward, especially in the way she handles him, not being all that impressed by his title, calling him out when needed, and most of all, I really liked that whenever Ward put up walls, Maddie didn’t spend much time wallowing, she’s quick to action whether persisting in her attempts to reach out to Ward, tackling royal life on her own terms, or figuring out what she needs to be happy.

Those walls Ward puts up? I know that sounds like typical alpha behavior, but he isn’t really like that. Ward wants to spend time with Maddie, he wants to know her, he wants to love her, he reaches out to her plenty of times over the course of the story, too (it’s not all her begging for his attention which would be nauseating). It’s just that he has baggage from his parents’ marriage, from being surrounded by sycophants and servants. His past has left Ward a little helpless, especially emotionally, though not in a cold alpha way, he’s actually quite warm and endearing, the joy he takes in Maddie’s frankness, and how Ward thinks he knows nothing about love, even believes himself incapable of it, all the while there are people in his life he clearly does love he just struggles to identify what that feeling is since his royal upbringing frowned on such sentiments.

Some readers might prefer a story with a touch more plot than this one ultimately has, however, the absence of melodrama and abundance of heart very much worked for me, and I can’t recall any other romance where an emotional turning point involved a clogged toilet, so points for uniqueness, too. ( )

"His Convenient Royal Bride" was an excellent quick read. I enjoyed the fairy tale aspect of the plot, since many of us have at some time dreamed of being royalty or maybe rescued by a handsome prince. I also liked the feisty nature of the heroine in the story.

I did not like the ending, however. Without giving away the finale, I did not find the actions of the heroine at the end of the story to fit at all with her character throughout the story. She seemed to be a strong woman and capable of seeing through a situation. At the very least, I thought it more appropriate for her to discuss all that was happening with her husband. I wish the ending could have been rewritten.

Readers who like a fun, quick read would probably like this book. I received this book from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own. ( )

Good Cinderella story. Maddie left New York and her cheating fiancé behind and returned home to Mountain Bend to help a friend. Now she spends her days waiting tables, baking, and trying to find a way to keep her small town from dying. The café owner, Kettle, and the other waitress, Sophie, have become her family. The arrival of two handsome but mysterious men at the café throws her life into turmoil.

Edward is the prince of a small island country with the weight of the world on his shoulders. Besides the challenges of reviving the island's economy, he is caught in a marriage dilemma. Contracted to a neighboring princess since they were children, he has learned that she is in love with another man but will honor the contract if necessary. Edward came to the US to escape for a while, for a chance to feel normal, and perhaps find a way out of the marriage so that someone can be happy.

I enjoyed the scene in the café when Edward and Maddie met. Sophie was funny, yet frustrating, in her bubbly forwardness, as Maddie tried to rein her in. I loved seeing Lancaster have to eat his words about Maddie's scones. But mostly I loved the instant connection between Maddie and Ward. He wants Maddie to spend time with him and is a bit flustered when she resists, not used to being told no. I liked seeing the way that both of them loosened up as they enjoyed the hot springs. Maddie is feisty and doesn't hold back her opinions and thoughts. His invitation to attend the concert with him unsettled Maddie, but she wanted to break out of the box she'd put herself in. The first part of the concert was great, and both of them lost themselves in their enjoyment of the music. Matters became complicated when Ward was recognized, and Lancaster had to get them out of there. I ached for Maddie and her feelings of betrayal as she learned the truth about Ward, and laughed out loud at her reaction as she melted away into the crowd to escape him. Ward earned points from me when he insisted on checking to be sure she made it home. I loved seeing him gather his courage and determination to see her and explain. He stunned himself and Maddie when he proposed a marriage of convenience to help him with his dilemma in exchange for his help with the town's problems.

I loved the development of Maddie and Ward's relationship. Though they went into it as a business contract, it was clear that there were already feelings between them. Ward is firmly convinced that love is not in his future as he has no idea what it is. Maddie believes that she can keep from falling for Ward. But the more she gets to know him, the more she sees the lonely man under the princely façade and wants to change it. Ward is fascinated and intrigued by Maddie's feistiness and down to earth attitude. The more that he wants to be with her, the harder he works to maintain his distance, knowing that she will leave. He also believes that he is no good for her and that keeping her with him would hurt her in the long run. Maddie refuses to give up on him, and slowly works her way past his walls. But an unexpected complication causes her to question her future with him. Can she stay with a man she loves with all her heart when there's only a business contract in return? I hurt for Maddie and her heartache over her belief that Ward didn't care. Ward's misery when Maddie disappeared was intense, as was his desperation to find her. His big moment at the end was deeply emotional as he bared his fears and feelings. Maddie's response was perfect and a life-changing realization for both of them. The epilogue was terrific. I would love to see if something develops between Sophie and Lancaster. ( )