Title: The Marriage That Made Her Queen
(Behind the Palace Doors... Book 1)
Author: Kali Anthony
Published: September 2022
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romance, Harlequin Presents, Mills & Boon Modern, Marriage of Convenience

Blurb:

Desire revived...at the royal altar! Get swept into the drama of this marriage-of-convenience romance by Kali Anthony.

“I’m asking you to be my husband.”

Her kingdom depends on it!

After tragedy strikes, queen-to-be Lise is all alone. To claim her crown, she must wed. And the man she must turn to is the self-made billionaire who made Lise believe in love before he shattered her heart – Rafe De Villiers.

For Rafe, Lise’s on-paper proposal should feel like a victory. He’ll finally silence those who only see his humble roots. Yet suddenly, winning back Lise’s trust seems more important. And he’ll have to secure it if passion is going to be part of their future...

My Review:

I was totally tempted to be reading the first book of Behind the Palace Doors after having read the second one, I knew I didn’t read it in order but it’s a standalone and I still found the joy.

After the untimely death of her family, Lise has to step up to be the queen in Lauritanian monarch yet she has to marry beforehand to claim it. The only man her father had approved is Rafe, the billionaire albeit commoner. On their wedding day, Rafe has clearly displayed his strong desire at her but Lise doesn’t see it that way because first she is unprepared to be queen as she has never trained to be one even though Rafe has attempted to assist her, second because she mistrusts him.

I loved how Rafe doesn’t conceal his sexual desire towards Lise from the beginning, his attempt is quite conventional and patient, particularly when his hands message Lise in the most tempting way, I would do anything just to be messaged by him. Further how Lise pictures him every time his muscle bulges against his shirt is quite vivid and enticed me however beneath that strong and confident mask I found another man, the one whom has been prejudiced. Throughout the story both Lise and Rafe have many things to be resolved mostly their internal conscience.

I really enjoyed reading Lise and Rafe’s. Their attempt in striving for their happiness is full of emotional drama but I always remember how romantic it was when Rafe makes wreath from wildflowers and grass, that scene etches within my mind.  The ending and epilogue are truly fascinating. Thank you, Kali Anthony, for providing me the digital copy.

Rate: 4.5 of 5

About the Author

When Kali Anthony read her first romance novel at fourteen, she realized a few truths: there can never be too many happy endings, and one day she would write them herself. After marrying her own tall, dark and handsome hero in a perfect friends-to-lovers romance, Kali took the plunge and penned her first story. Writing has been a love affair ever since. If she isn’t battling her cat for access to the keyboard, you can find Kali playing dress-up in vintage clothes, gardening, or bushwhacking with her husband and three children in the rain forest of South East Queensland. You might contact her on https://www.kalianthony.com/ or her twitter https://twitter.com/KaliAAnthony