Susan F. (scoutmomskf) -
Good book. The story opens as Liam, a well-known photographer, prepares for a portrait session with Princess Vittoria. He has a connection with her already, as their younger sisters are best friends. Izzy talked a lot about her big sister and asked Liam to take a special picture for her, one of the woman behind the tiara who "looks like sunshine when she smiles."
Vittoria knew she'd be queen after her father died when she was eleven. With her grandfather's decision to step down at the end of the year, that day rapidly approaches. She spent years learning to hide her emotions and accepting her duty. She does it for the family she loves dearly. She still longs for the chance at a "normal life," but with her mother and grandmother pushing her to marry before the coronation, she knows it is impossible. I ached for Vittoria because the man they chose for her has nothing in common with her, and she looks at a bleak future with him.
Liam's views on the importance of family mirror Vittoria's. His parents died when he was eighteen, and he gave up university to raise his twelve-year-old sister. In the twelve years since then, he made a name for himself with his photographs while maintaining his care for his sister. They have a very close relationship, and I loved seeing their interactions throughout the book. A side effect of raising his sister is Liam's lack of interest in having a family of his own.
I loved the first meeting between Vittoria and Liam. Dressed in traditional royal portrait clothing, her beauty and regal bearing hit Liam hard. At first, he only sees the princess, but he catches glimpses of the woman Izzy adores as they talk. I enjoyed their conversation as they got to know each other a little bit. Liam likewise stunned Vittoria with his looks and also with his sharp wit and insight. Sparks of attraction were noted by each but ignored because nothing could come of them. They parted ways, not expecting to see each other again but unable to forget each other. When a chance came to see Liam again, Vittoria seized it.
I loved the development of the relationship between Vittoria and Liam. The connection they felt during the portrait session continued when Vittoria came to Izzy's birthday dinner at Liam's. Izzy, who knows how much pressure Vittoria is under, comes up with her Roman Holiday idea, encouraging Vittoria to use the opportunity to escape for a few days. She recruits Liam, who offers his seaside cottage. Over the next few days, as they spent time together, Vittoria relaxed and allowed herself to forget the real world. I loved the sweet scenes of them doing ordinary things like eating fish and chips from a stand and cooking together. Best of all was the visit to the field of bluebells and the fun they had taking pictures of each other. The attraction between them continued to build until they couldn't resist it any longer. One night together wasn't enough, but it was all they had before Vittoria returned to her home.
But fate isn't done with them, and Vittoria ends up pregnant. I ached for her as she remembered Liam's decision not to have a family and faced being a single mother as well as a queen. I liked that she was determined to tell Liam face-to-face. It doesn't go well, as Vittoria and Liam hide behind façades of cool dignity and wounded pride rather than talking honestly about expectations and desires. It takes an offhand comment by Izzy for Liam to realize the mistake he made and fire up his determination to fix it. I loved the scene in the rose garden, as Liam confessed that he "listened to the words coming out of her mouth rather than what she was saying." The outpouring of his love, his belief in her, and his support were intensely moving, and I loved the effect it had on Vittoria. Then he had to face her family. I loved Liam's nervousness, determination, and eloquence as he told them the same things he told her. It wasn't easy, but in the end, a picture was worth a thousand words. The epilogue was a terrific wrap-up to the story.
Vittoria knew she'd be queen after her father died when she was eleven. With her grandfather's decision to step down at the end of the year, that day rapidly approaches. She spent years learning to hide her emotions and accepting her duty. She does it for the family she loves dearly. She still longs for the chance at a "normal life," but with her mother and grandmother pushing her to marry before the coronation, she knows it is impossible. I ached for Vittoria because the man they chose for her has nothing in common with her, and she looks at a bleak future with him.
Liam's views on the importance of family mirror Vittoria's. His parents died when he was eighteen, and he gave up university to raise his twelve-year-old sister. In the twelve years since then, he made a name for himself with his photographs while maintaining his care for his sister. They have a very close relationship, and I loved seeing their interactions throughout the book. A side effect of raising his sister is Liam's lack of interest in having a family of his own.
I loved the first meeting between Vittoria and Liam. Dressed in traditional royal portrait clothing, her beauty and regal bearing hit Liam hard. At first, he only sees the princess, but he catches glimpses of the woman Izzy adores as they talk. I enjoyed their conversation as they got to know each other a little bit. Liam likewise stunned Vittoria with his looks and also with his sharp wit and insight. Sparks of attraction were noted by each but ignored because nothing could come of them. They parted ways, not expecting to see each other again but unable to forget each other. When a chance came to see Liam again, Vittoria seized it.
I loved the development of the relationship between Vittoria and Liam. The connection they felt during the portrait session continued when Vittoria came to Izzy's birthday dinner at Liam's. Izzy, who knows how much pressure Vittoria is under, comes up with her Roman Holiday idea, encouraging Vittoria to use the opportunity to escape for a few days. She recruits Liam, who offers his seaside cottage. Over the next few days, as they spent time together, Vittoria relaxed and allowed herself to forget the real world. I loved the sweet scenes of them doing ordinary things like eating fish and chips from a stand and cooking together. Best of all was the visit to the field of bluebells and the fun they had taking pictures of each other. The attraction between them continued to build until they couldn't resist it any longer. One night together wasn't enough, but it was all they had before Vittoria returned to her home.
But fate isn't done with them, and Vittoria ends up pregnant. I ached for her as she remembered Liam's decision not to have a family and faced being a single mother as well as a queen. I liked that she was determined to tell Liam face-to-face. It doesn't go well, as Vittoria and Liam hide behind façades of cool dignity and wounded pride rather than talking honestly about expectations and desires. It takes an offhand comment by Izzy for Liam to realize the mistake he made and fire up his determination to fix it. I loved the scene in the rose garden, as Liam confessed that he "listened to the words coming out of her mouth rather than what she was saying." The outpouring of his love, his belief in her, and his support were intensely moving, and I loved the effect it had on Vittoria. Then he had to face her family. I loved Liam's nervousness, determination, and eloquence as he told them the same things he told her. It wasn't easy, but in the end, a picture was worth a thousand words. The epilogue was a terrific wrap-up to the story.
