Reviewer: Lori Graham
Title: The Prince's Arranged Bride
Author: Susan Stephens
Publisher: Harlequin Presents
ISBN-13: 978-0-373-82378-9
Release Date: November 2008
Genre/Sub-genre: Contemporary Romance
Year/Setting: Current/London & Mediterranean
Overall Rating: 4.0
Sexual Content Rating: Sensual
Language (Profanity/Slang) Rating: None
Violent Content Rating: None
Susan's Website:
www.susanstephens.net
Crown Prince Alessandro Bussoni Ferara finds himself in an interesting position. In order for his father to abdicate the throne, Alessandro must be married. So far, none of the women who his private secretary has brought before him have interested him in the least. That is until one night when they were relaxing and the singer lit something inside him that he didn’t know existed. He knew she was the one at that moment.
Emily Weston was actually filling in that night at the cabaret for her twin sister, Miranda. Emily’s day job was actually as a barrister and she loved the job she did. She only agreed to fill in for Miranda because she needed the money. When she was approached by this strange little man she thought he was an agent for a recording agency looking to sign her sister and agreed to a meeting.
It turns out that Alessandro isn’t a member of Prince Recording but is a prince himself—real royalty. He proposed a marriage of convenience. He needs a wife in order to move forward with taking his place as the King. In return, he offers to pay for an incredible (and expensive) new violin for her sister and for her lessons with a renowned violinist. All of this seems like a small price to pay for Emily until she finds her heart getting involved. And, when she discovers there was one other little secret Alessandro was keeping from her.
We have all read of arranged marriages and I have to admit I thought they were rather corny. Susan Stephens takes an old-fashioned idea and creates a very cute Christmas story. I could see myself making an arrangement like Emily made if it will gain so much for my sister. Plus, it had to tug at her heart immensely when Alessandro knew immediately on the second time they met that she was Emily and not Miranda. There were times their own parents couldn’t tell the difference. 
There were a few issues with point of view shifts within the story, but all in the all, the storyline itself was so incredibly sweet and touching that they really didn’t matter. This is a couple that I couldn’t help thinking a reader would like to spend some time with personally. The characters themselves were nicely done and real. (Will there be another romance between Miranda and her ski champion for next Christmas?)
Lori
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