Expecting the Prince's Baby - Rebecca Winters (HR #4423 - May 2014)

Series: Princes of Europe (Book 1)

Abby Loretto's decision to become a surrogate mother to the Mediterranean's premier royal couple is the bravest thing she's ever done…

When Prince Vincenzo is tragically widowed shortly after Abby becomes pregnant, her heart goes out to the prince. Abby quickly becomes the focus of Vincenzo's hope, but she must use all her courage to ignore their growing attraction…she is a commoner after all.

But Vincenzo is determined: he will fight royal protocol because Abby is his baby's mother…and to stay that way she must become his wife!

Good book. Abby had volunteered to be the gestational surrogate for Vincenzo and his wife because she felt it was a way to repay him for saving her life when she was seventeen. She and Vincenzo had been friends since her family had moved to Arancia when she was twelve. When his wife died shortly after Abby became pregnant she knew things were going to be hard for him. He begins to focus on the coming baby and making sure all is well with Abby. 

Vincenzo was carrying a bit of guilt over his marriage. It had been an arranged one, and though his wife had loved him, his feelings for her were closer to friendship and respect. She had wanted a baby very badly, but after three miscarriages the odds weren't good. He went along with her plan to use a surrogate because it would make her happy. They were pleased when Abby was one of the applicants because they knew her well. After his wife's death, Vincenzo found himself spending more time with Abby, not just because of the baby, but also because of their longstanding friendship. He didn't expect to start feeling more than friendship with her.

Abby had had feelings for Vincenzo for years. She knew nothing could every come of it, so she was content to be his friend. She considered her offer to bear their child the greatest gift she could give them. Abby was heartbroken when his wife died, knowing that his child would grow up without its mother. The longer she carried the baby, the more she felt like it was hers, but she had promised that she would have no contact after the baby was born.

Abby is very aware of the fact that if Vincenzo is seen spending time with her, there will be gossip about whether they'd had an affair while he was married. She works hard at keeping him at a distance in order to protect him. Vincenzo sees the truth of what she says, but doesn't want to give up his time with her. I liked his creativity in finding a way that both can have what they need. I loved the slow growth of their relationship from friendship to love. Vincenzo eventually realized that he'd always loved Abby. I loved seeing him figure out how to find her after the baby's birth and then to go after what he really wants for his life. 

Becoming the Prince's Wife - Rebecca Winters (HR #4427 - June 2014)

Series: Princes of Europe (Book 2)

A forbidden love…with a prince!

Attorney Carolena Baretti keeps her cards close to her chest. But when a chance encounter with the handsome prince ignites a fiery attraction, Carolena finds that he may just be the one man she can trust….

Crown prince Valentino finds himself increasingly distracted from his duty by commoner Carolena. But Valentino is playing with fire. To be with Carolena he would have to sacrifice everything -- including his right to the throne….

Sweet story with both Carolena and Valentino having obstacles to overcome. They are introduced when she joins her friend Abby and Prince Vincenzo for a combination vacation and business meeting. She and Val are immediately attracted to each other but a relationship is impossible. Val is engaged to a princess in an arranged marriage required for him to become king. Carolena has never recovered from the guilt that she feels over her fiance's death and has  vowed never to marry.

I really liked Val. Even though he has a reputation as a playboy prince there is a lot more to him. He is a volcanologist who has a real passion for his work. He wants to be able to protect his people in the event of an eruption. When he meets Carolena he is bowled over by her beauty, and then entranced by her intelligence and enthusiasm. He knows he should stay away from her but he can't. The more time he spends with her the more he realizes his unwillingness to enter a loveless marriage. He has to convince Carolena that marriage between them is possible. I loved his determination to win her over. He showed sensitivity to her fears, but he wasn't going to let them get in the way of their future. I loved seeing him slowly break down her walls. He seemed to know when to push and when to back off.

Carolena is a beautiful and intelligent woman but she has closed herself off from emotional entanglements. She lost her fiance in an accident that she feels responsible for. She doesn't want to get involved with someone and risk that kind of loss again. Her immediate attraction to Val is so strong that it scares her. The more she gets to know him, the better she likes him. I loved her enthusiasm for his work and the way she made her admiration clear. She also sees how much he is loved and respected as the crown prince. She can't stand the idea of him giving it all up for her, certain that he would resent it eventually. She keeps trying to push him away but he won't go. Carolena has to learn to separate the man from the prince in order to see what they can have together.

I loved seeing the two of them together. Val was a real romantic and I really liked all the special touches of their time together. Carolena may have been resisting the idea of loving Val, but it was obvious that she did. Her trip to the volcano with him was just one way that showed her feelings. There was a really interesting twist to the problem of Val's engagement and I enjoyed seeing his reaction to it. I liked seeing Carolena finally take steps to deal with her issues and loved the confidence it gave her.