Title: The Heir and the Spare (Untitled #1)
Author: Emily Albright
Format: eBook
Source: FFBC/Author
The Heir and the Spare is a delightful and cute little romance about a young American who finds herself falling in love with a Prince.
Following plans and letters that her mother set up for her before her death, Evie has come to Oxford to study and learn more about her mother, a Brit who fell in love with Evie's father while at Oxford. While there Evie receives several more tasks from her mother to complete, each one leading her a step closer to learning a big secret about her mother's past.
And while Evie is enjoying learning more about her mother, coming to Oxford has other benefits as well such as a budding relationship with Prince Edmund, the second son of the King of England. The two instantly connect and grow even closer as he assists her in completing her mother's tasks.
However, Evie has some serious confidence and self-doubt issues when it comes to their relationship and fears she'll never be good enough for him or his family. Doubts that others help feed as the press gets wind of the relationship and things get awkward. Plus Edmund runs a little hot and cold with his indecisiveness which only adds to the problem.
Some discoveries change things for Evie, but like many of us Evie just wants to be loved for who she is, not her ancestry. Eventually the spunky character who was willing to go halfway across the globe based on a letter from her deceased mother gains back her confidence and sees her true worth. Edmund would be lucky to have this adventurous young lady, even if she is a bit impulsive in her choices, no matter what family she comes from.
Evie and Edmund do make a cute couple who surprisingly have a lot in common despite their very different backgrounds. They were almost too perfect for each other, but it was interesting to watch their relationship grow despite some hiccups along the way. I love romances, and The Heir and the Spare really is a typical romance book complete with misunderstandings and interference from others. I have to admit that this couple frustrated me quite a bit with their lack of communication. A lot of their issues could have been solved by communication with one another...but then we wouldn't have a book, I guess.
Also, the whole American girl/Prince romance concept is one of my favorites. As a kid I dreamed that one day, Prince Harry would sweep me off my feet...heck, I still dream of that sometimes. And some of my favorite books and movies have used this plot. That being said, the plot was a bit predictable at times, but it was still an enjoyable read and I was interested to see how things would play out between our couple and their circle of friends.
And I enjoyed the way the author changed things up a bit by including the scavenger hunt-like tasks that Evie completed. Her mother must have had a lot of love (and assistance from others) to set all of that in motion while she was ill. It almost seemed too unbelievable to really happen, but I guess it's possible. Although, how she could be sure her daughter would get into Oxford is a mystery to me. But it was touching to see Evie get to know a different side of her mother and where she came from. I almost wish more of the book had focused on the tasks.
Overall, this was a sweet, romantic story with very few surprises, but plenty of heart that made for a very quick and entertaining read.
My Rating: 4 Stars
*I received a free digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
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