Title: Rivals at the Royal Altar
Author: Julieanne Howells
Published: May 2023
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Mills & Boon Modern, Harlequin Presents, Enemies-to-Lovers, Marriage-of-Convenience

Blurb:

The queen’s fairy-tale wedding...is with her enemy! Surrender to this emotional royal romance from Julieanne Howells.

Not just a night with her enemy...

A lifetime!

Queen Agnesse was not supposed to become playboy Prince Sebastien’s bride. But, forced to cohost a charity gala, the incendiary, off-limits chemistry they’ve long ignored explodes...and the consequences will be legally binding!

Seb vowed he’d never marry. Not after his own unhappy past. Still, he’ll do anything to protect Agnesse and her hard-won reputation. They have faced heartbreak apart. Now the love developing between them could help them face their biggest trial together...if they can finally believe that love exists.

My Review:

What a compelling enemies-to-lovers trope! I might have rambled a lot about heroes from my prior reviews but I now so adore Agnesse as a strong stubborn heroine!

Agnesse is more likely a mirror image of me I realized it when she has to co-host with her adversary, Seb, a playboy prince (I have a tendency to avoid people I don’t like). Her disgust at him is so obvious and I wondered how she is going to fall for him. Her temper and characters at the beginning are so compelling that I began to like her. Meanwhile despite his reluctance, Seb agrees to replace his cousin to be with Agnesse in the gala for charity.

I couldn’t hide my hilarious interest when both are confronted in the gala and their hate and sexual attraction are mingled. Oh I was super excited to read it and see how they would undergo their undeniable appeal. I knew, beneath their strong and scathing banter, they are actually vulnerable. Seb is an epitome of rake that is what people and press presume, yet he might not what his image reveals, I think he is the most compassionate, tender-hearted and lovable character in this book. On the other hand Agnesse is a beauty but most regards her as an ice queen. No one knows how vulnerable she is. The duty they have to deal with and the consequence of their off-limits sexual desire eventually bring them together.

Ah it is a truly beautiful and compelling book. Their electric sexual tension is so steamy and powerful especially the epilogue. At one time I just wanted to shout to both Seb and Agnesse that they have been in love since their first encounter yet both are too stubborn, nonetheless I loved this story! I even had to re-read some of my bookmarks just to feel how romantic and intimate the moments were. It also features lots of daisies, one of my favourite flowers! I will definitely read Julieanne’s other books. Thank you, Julieanne Howells, for the digital ARC which I voluntary reviewed.

Rate: 5 of 5

About the Author

Julieanne Howells loves the romance of a stormy day, which is just as well because she lives in rainy North East England. On inclement days, if she’s not writing and reading, she has a fondness for cooking. Sometimes her efforts are even edible. She compensates for her lack of domestic skills by being an expert daydreamer, always imagining ways for plucky heroines to upend the world of handsome, provoking heroes. For Julianne, writing for Harlequin is just about the perfect job. Follow her on Twitter https://twitter.com/julieannehowel