Reading A Tenuous Betrothal by Jen Geigle Johnson gave me a calm respite from life. It’s the type of sweet romance novel that makes me root for the characters without feeling desperate to gobble up their story. It’s relaxed and fun and pleasant. In other words, it’s a classic Jen Geigle Johnson novel.

I liked that A Tenuous Betrothal held story tension without the main characters acting as adversaries. Rhianna’s natural leadership skills give her the necessary stubbornness and strength she needs to do good for her hometown. Marc is a born leader with a bent for protecting others, but these two characters partner together throughout the novel. Whether it’s finding a spouse or bettering the lives of others, Marc and Rhianna respect each other and willingly support the other’s goals. Although their romance felt a tad angsty as they rehashed their reasons to not be together, Rhianna’s uniqueness, plus the strong partnership between her and Marc, kept me turning pages until I finished this agreeable story.

A Tenuous Betrothal lands as book three in Jen Geigle Johnson’s Royal Regency Romance series. I read book one, but not book two, and A Tenuous Betrothal worked fine as a standalone story. Though the events involving Napoleon and France take a backseat to the characters’ relationships, that background setting does carry over from book to book. I suggest reading the novels in sequence to see how these six royal brothers navigate political happenings and personal romances.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own. ( )

“Marc was just plain ridiculous. And if he wasn’t going to see what was plain to everyone else, then she wasn’t going to try to make him.”

What happens when a father’s wish beyond the grave changes the life of a newly orphaned Welsh beauty forever? Rhianna Davies has gone from being the daughter of a wealthy Welsh mine owner to living in a cold barren cottage on her father’s estate while her greedy uncle has taken over her property and mines. When she’s summoned by her uncle to her former home, she learns her father left a provision in his will for her to marry a handsome prince from Oldenburg. But, when neither Rhianna nor Prince Marc are disposed to marry a virtual stranger, they decide to strike a bargain to still honor their fathers’ wishes but marry whom and when they want. As love begins to bloom though, Prince Marc is still determined not to wed. Will he give in to his feelings or will he maintain his stubborn nobility and duty?

Jen Geigle Johnson knows how to write characters who evoke strong emotions. While I was reading this, there were times when I loved Prince Marc and then wanted to shake him! He’s every bit the handsome prince with integrity and passion, but his desire to protect his family’s kingdom virtually by himself frustrated me to no end. It’s so obvious he’s in love with Rhi, but he doesn’t want to put her in danger.

I absolutely loved Rhi! She’s daring, bold, smart, strong, and extremely patient. She also has a kind heart which at times gets trampled upon. She cares deeply about her people who work the mines and is willing to do what it takes to ensure their safety. She doesn’t hesitate to risk her life for others. She’s also extremely forgiving when it comes to Marc and his mercurial personality.

I also loved the other princes of Oldenburg as well as the king and queen. The princes who attempt to woo Rhi are so fun and I have to admit there were times I wanted her to choose one of them. I look forward to reading more of their stories.

There’s plenty of action and adventure as well as swoony romance. Despite my frustration with Prince Marc, circumstances lead him to question his beliefs and I was so happy with the way things turned out. It’s definitely an action packed story that takes the reader on a journey from Wales to England to Oldenburg and deals with treacheries from Napoleon sympathizers.

Though this is the third book in the series, it can definitely be read as a standalone! I hadn’t read the previous books, but now look forward to going back and reading them. I recommend this to fans of Regency and historical clean romance. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own and I was not required to provide a positive review. ( )