Review: Claiming the Princess

I received an ARC of Claiming the Princess by Charis Michaels through NetGalley. Although I usually read clean romance books, I was intrigued by the concept behind the Hidden Royals series, which involves exiled members of a royal family who live in hiding until they fall in love. This is the third and final book in the series, and it made me want to read the other two. The story reminded me a lot of Anastasia, which is one of my favorite movies. Even though there were three brief passages that I needed to skip over, it was surprisingly sweet, adventurous, and relaxing, with charmingly flawed characters and an enticing plot.

When Captain Luke Bannock saves a prized member of the royal court from a vicious nobleman, he is offered a reward of his choosing. He selects the hand of the princess that his enemy wishes to marry as a form of revenge. Little did he know that Princess Danielle was raised by surrogate parents who never told her of her royal roots. When he realizes that her life is already full of secrets, he finds himself unable to reveal his true intentions for marrying her. Meanwhile, Dani is blindsided by her betrothal, her history, and her secret family that she never knew she had. All she wants from Luke is answers that he is reluctant to provide.

Although the book had high stakes revolving around Luke's intent to rescue his surrogate father being held prisoner by his enemy, it was a surprisingly cozy read. Dani's quest for answers was fulfilled in gradual chunks, during which her feelings toward Luke grew to a crescendo. Before learning about her identity as a lost princess, Dani had a simple goal of helping the people in her small village by running a local estate. As luck would have it, that very estate was provided for Luke as part of his reward. Her goals change very little upon learning about her royal lineage other than helping Luke with his own quest.

The main theme of Capturing the Princess is what it means to be a family. Both Dani and Luke were raised by parental figures that they loved like real parents and would do anything for. When Dani learned that she had a brother and sister who were also in exile, she was eager to get to know them as well. Luke was a brooding, adventuresome type who had very little interest in romance until he met Dani. Suddenly, starting a family with her didn't seem so bad. Although I wish the book had included more details about the rescue mission at the end, it was interesting to read about Luke's adventures from Dani's perspective through the letters she received from him. The story led up to a thrilling and satisfying climax.

Claiming the Princess by Charis Michaels is a delightful, adventurous romance that will captivate fans of royalty-themed tales. With its charmingly flawed characters, gradual-burn romance, and an enticing plot, this book is a must-read for anyone looking for a sweet, relaxing read. The story's exploration of family, identity, and loyalty adds depth to the narrative, making it a satisfying conclusion to the Hidden Royals series. While it can be read as a standalone, it's clear that Michaels has crafted a rich, immersive world that will leave readers eager to explore the rest of the series.