From princess to rock-star royalty! Self-proclaimed "black sheep" Princess Charlie of Afland has worked long and hard to be taken seriously in the music industry, managing to keep her royal obligations, and her secret heartbreak, under the radar. Until one night in Vegas changes everything… Rock star Joe Kavanagh gets more from his Vegas gig than he'd bargained for…a princess bride and a PR story to die for! As the initial attraction, which led them down the aisle, turns into something deeper, keeping their marriage strictly business proves increasingly difficult…
War brought them together. Love will tear them apart. Auranos has been conquered and the three kingdoms—Auranos, Limeros, and Paelsia—are now unwillingly united as one country called Mytica. But alluring, dangerous magic still beckons, and with it the chance to rule not just Mytica, but the world. . . . CLEO is now a prisoner in her own palace, forced to be an ambassador for Mytica as the evil King Gaius lies to her people MAGNUS stands to eventually inherit the new kingdom but is still obsessed with his feelings for his adopted sister, Lucia LUCIA is haunted by the deadly outcome of her breathtaking display of magic that allowed her father to capture the kingdoms JONAS watches at the palace gates, a troop of rebels behind him, waiting for him to tell them how he plans to overtake King Gaius When Gaius announces that a road is to be built into the Forbidden Mountains, formally linking all of Mytica together, he sets off a chain of cataclysmic events that will forever change the face of this land. Praise for Falling Kingdoms “From an opening dripping with blood, magic, and betrayal through complex interweaving plots detailing treachery, deceit, and forbidden love, this novel . . . will immediately engage readers and keep them intrigued.”—Booklist “[It] will gut you emotionally . . . make you ache, cry, and beg for the sequel as you turn the last page. I absolutely loved it.”—Julie Kagawa, New York Times bestselling author of The Iron Queen “This triple-layered tale of bloodshed, heartbreak, and tangled court intrigue kept me turning pages very late into the night.”—Lesley Livingston, author of Wondrous Strange and Starling Richelle Mead, bestselling author of the Vampire Academy and Bloodlines series, sits down with Morgan Rhodes to talk about Rebel Spring, the much-anticipated second book in her bestselling Falling Kingdoms series. Richelle Mead: Morgan Rhodes (aka Michelle Rowen) has been my friend for a number of years. We've hung out together at conferences and swooned over each other's books. When she was able to work on Vampire Academy: The Ultimate Guide, I couldn't believe how lucky I was to have someone who was already a fan of the VA world and whose writing I personally loved. I'm just as excited about her Falling Kingdoms series and couldn't resist this chance to ask her some questions about Rebel Spring, the next book in the series! Morgan Rhodes: I was thrilled for the chance to write the VA Ultimate Guide! I remember Richelle telling me there were plans for the book and I piped up with: “I totally want to write that!” And what fun it was to delve back into a series that I loved (and am still in love with thanks to the wonderful Bloodlines spinoff). I’m counting down the days for the VA movie! Richelle is not only a friend, but one of my very favorite authors, so it’s a real honor to be interviewed by her about Rebel Spring. RM: So without further ado, let’s start talking about the new book. The world of Falling Kingdoms is so vivid and detail-rich. When it comes to world-building for these novels, where do you get your inspiration? MR: I get my inspiration from pretty much everywhere, although I’m visually inspired by some of my favorite TV shows and movies, which run the gamut from Lord of the Rings to The Princess Bride to Game of Thrones, to name just a few. RM: At the end of Falling Kingdoms, things are looking pretty bleak in Mytica. Is it fair to say that Rebel Spring will be quite a bit darker than book 1? MR: The stakes have been raised and sharpened, for sure. Blood will spill and lives will be lost. But I don’t think I would ever want to write a book that was unrelentingly bleak from beginning to end. I can promise that Rebel Spring contains plenty of comic relief and romance to counterbalance the darker bits. RM: The Falling Kingdoms books are written from multiple POVs, and each of your narrators has such a unique voice and perspective. How does your experience vary from POV to POV? Are there some characters that are more difficult than others? Do you have a favorite? MR: It’s been a wonderful and exciting challenge to write in multiple points of view from my diverse cast. I will admit, some POVs are always a joy to write and others prove to be a challenge. I try to put myself in the head of that character and see the world from their eyes, no matter who they are or what their goals are. I get into the heads of a couple different characters in Rebel Spring, including a villain who definitely sees things from a darker angle than anything I’ve written before – which was fun. The characters whose scenes I most look forward to writing since they are very specific personalities and basically take over and make things easier for me are Cleo and Magnus. They tend to surprise me while the other characters usually stick to the outline! RM: Let’s talk body count. You’re very good at making me fall in love with your characters, but you’re also very good at killing them off when I least expect it. How do you decide the who, how, when, and why when it comes to killing off your characters? MR: I never knew how much I enjoyed killing characters until I started writing this series. *evil grin* However! I like to think those who get the ax (sometimes, um, literally) are necessary deaths. It’s all for a purpose, to change another character in the face of their shock and grief, to lead them down a path they never would have taken before, and to spark a desire for revolution and vengeance in the hearts of those who might previously have been passive and peaceful. Plus, I always think when things seem a bit too ideal and characters are getting too comfortable, it’s a good time to get a few heads rolling to keep things interesting for readers – and for me as the writer! RM: What’s going on with Magnus? He seems like kind of a jerk in Falling Kingdoms, but I get the sense he’s got a soft spot. MR: With a father like King Gaius, whose nickname is the “King of Blood,” it would be pretty hard for a prince to grow up as a nice dude with a sunny disposition! Magnus really came alive on the page for me, more so than any other character in the cast. Initially, he was supposed to be a jerk through and through, but he’s really more of a lost soul whose entire life has been devoted to attempting to gain his cruel and driven father’s love and respect. However, Magnus has begun to learn that he might have a different set of morals than the king, even though he knows following in Daddy’s footsteps would make life easier for him. This isn’t to say that Magnus hasn’t made (and will make) some rather dreadful decisions that will certainly cast a shadow over his future relationships and experiences. RM: Jonas has a lot of axes to grind by the end of book 1. What can we expect from him in Rebel Spring? MR: I think the main thing with Jonas is that beneath his thirst for vengeance (focused on both the murderer of his brother Aron and King Gaius) is that he really does mean well. He cares about the people of downtrodden Paelsia, and he’s someone, unlike his fellow countrymen, who doesn’t believe his future is ruled by uncontrollable fate. In Rebel Spring, Jonas has been thrust into the position of rebel leader, which will be a challenge for him on many levels. RM: Okay, ultimate personality test: Are you a Cleo or a Lucia? MR: Both are princesses from vastly different kingdoms and upbringings – Cleo is a girl who has favored parties and frivolity in the past, while Lucia prefers learning and solitude. Cleo is stubborn and sometimes reckless, and Lucia is more measured and controlled, but may be considered naïve in many ways. I wouldn’t say I’m much like either princess, really, although I am blond like Cleo and I love books like Lucia. :) RM: Lastly, can you talk a little bit about your writing process? MR: It would be next to impossible to undertake a large tapestry of a series like Falling Kingdoms if I didn’t plan a lot of it ahead of time. I work from a detailed outline and map out character goals and conflicts and relationship arcs, but I’m still surprised by some of the things my characters say and do that can take me in a direction different from what was meticulously planned. So far, it’s been a lot of fun to explore these unexpected paths to see where they lead.
Having lost her royal parents in a palace fire at the young age of four, Chamundeswari is brought up to be the docile princess of a vassal kingdom by her stepmother who is also the newly crowned queen; and her brother, the chief minister. Though Vijayendran is the youngest born of the Chozha Emperor and his temple dancer wife, he grows up to be a great warrior and leader under the auspices of his elder brother Rajendran only after their father's death. He has been especially trained by the newly crowned king to win over territories and annex them to the greatest empire of those times. The earth quakes and the skies shiver when Chamundeswari and Vijayendran come face to face. But is everything what it appears to be on the surface? Forget being docile, the princess with a tiger for her pet, appears to be a rebel through and through. And the warrior whose strength is to annex regions could be the very person the princess needs to save her kingdom. But will The Rebel Princess heed the words of the man who sets her on fire with a mere glance?
He is a Navy SEAL. She is a young Princess. Will they find love? Zara I met him, the handsome, wicked stranger, when I sneaked out of the Golden Palace on my nineteenth birthday. He crooned filthy, dirty words in my ears. Claiming me as His Princess when I spent a night with him. What I did not plan was to meet that handsome, rugged stranger, Hayden Knight, after two years. He had disappeared that morning with a broken promise. Now he wants me. For more than a night, not knowing that I am a Royal Princess. I have no choice but to forget the events of that night and move on because being a Princess of Azmia comes at a cost. I have to forget him, even if my body craves his firm hold. His sapphire blue eyes curling with delicious desire that made me want to crawl on my knees and sin for him. All I know is that I won’t be able to refuse him, especially his cruel mouth, despite the consequences. Hayden I met her, the innocent doe-eyed vixen, when I first visited Azmia. Someone as sweet as her intrigued me, begging me to hurt her in the most delicious ways possible. Her soft moans were music to my ears when I marked her soft skin that night. The stunning little rebel who made me want to kneel and worship her between her legs. What I did not expect was to see her in a short dress, even shorter hair and a bigger smile after two years of endless search, looking enchanting as ever. I crave to hold her in my arms, lay down anything and everything for her. This time, I will have her. For more than a night. After all, she is a Princess to my Knight. “I want you to hurt me.” “Where do you want me to hurt you, Princess?” “Here.” I placed his large, calloused hands on my chest. Lowering them to where I wanted him the most. “Everywhere.” Tempting Rebel Princess is the third book in the sweet, steamy royal romance Alluring Rulers of Azmia Series. It is a perfect read if you enjoy sweet, steamy romance. No cliffhangers! If you like raw emotions, diverse characters, passionate HEAs with sizzling love scenes, then you’ll love Mahi Mistry’s Alluring Rulers of Azmia Series. All books can be read as a standalone. Buy Tempting Rebel Princess to read the hot, age-gap royal romance book today!
A traitor. A future king. A doomed love story. Merry Stern has never been a spy, but when she's offered asylum in exchange for her help uncovering remaining rebel bands, she accepts in hopes of freeing her father. Working with the royals is no easy feat, especially considering that Prince Gregory Hamilton considers her untrustworthy and duplicitous. As she and the prince navigate their uncomfortable relationship, Merry is introduced to questions she did not know she possessed; questions of light and darkness, good and evil. Princess Roanna is finally engaged to Prince Benjamin of Lox, only the marriage seems stalled, and she cannot determine at whose hand. The Dawsons won't let her out of their sight, Chester's Wake is focusing all efforts on finding their lost princess, and Lox refuses to acknowledge her position entirely. Truth and lies are brought to light as those who seek to control and destroy are finally uncovered in The Rebel Princess.
Marriage of convenience—or a match made in heaven? Emma Trent had spent most of her life looking after other people, yet when she meets gorgeous surgeon Sir Paul Wyatt she is heartened to find that he’s determined to take care of her! When he proposes a marriage of convenience, to give her a better life, she is powerless to resist her knight in shining armour. But Emma longs for children of her own, and secretly hopes that their friendship will blossom into love. Could the eminent surgeon be the answer to all her dreams? Originally published in 1995
From assistant to fiancée! Joss Dawson knows the one thing that will make his dying father happy is to see his son find love…the problem is, he’s sworn off love forever! But the answer’s simple! Asking his father’s fiercely intelligent, beautiful assistant Eva to play the perfect role—his fiancée. Only for Eva it’s not that easy… Pretending to be Joss’s fiancée threatens to ruin the life she’s worked so hard for! And how will she keep her head when she’s losing her heart to her frustratingly attractive new boss?
Harlequin® Romance brings you a collection of four new titles, available now! Experience the rush of falling in love! This Harlequin® Romance box set includes: #4651 THE PRINCESS’S NEW YEAR WEDDING The Princess Brides by Rebecca Winters Dutiful Princess Lanza knows dashing Prince Stefano’s only honoring his late brother’s promise to unite their kingdoms by marrying her, and that she must steel her heart. But it’s not long before her captivating royal husband gets under her skin… #4652 HIRED BY THE MYSTERIOUS MILLIONAIRE by Ally Blake Every day openhearted IT expert Evie rides the commuter train and fantasizes about the handsome guy sitting opposite. But her daydreams clash with reality when she gets a new job…and finds that her train crush is guarded French millionaire Armand Debussey—and her boss! #4653 SECOND CHANCE WITH THE SINGLE DAD by Kandy Shepherd Georgia and Wil were best friends until he married and disappeared from her life. Now he’s back and asking for Georgia’s help with the daughter he never knew he had! Can they confront their unspoken attraction and finally become a family? #4654 SURPRISE BABY FOR THE HEIR by Ellie Darkins There’s no room in Elspeth’s life for romance, but a surprise pregnancy catapults her back into Fraser’s world… Where she discovers the man whose touch she can’t forget is a laird and their baby is heir to a Scottish castle!
Harlequin® Romance brings you a collection of four new titles, available now! Experience the rush of falling in love! This Harlequin® Romance box set includes: #4683 CINDERELLA’S PRINCE UNDER THE MISTLETOE A Crown by Christmas by Cara Colter Reeling from the revelation he’s not the rightful heir to his country’s throne, Crown Prince Luca Valenti heads to the mountains to find his long-lost sister. But snowbound with enchanting, down-to-earth housekeeper Imogen, Luca’s learning there’s more to life than royal duty… #4684 HOW TO PROPOSE TO A PRINCESS The Princess Brides by Rebecca Winters It’s love at first sight for Princess Fausta of Domodossola and Dr. Nico Barsotti! Fausta’s always longed for a life away from the royal court…so their future’s uncertain when orphaned Nico uncovers the secrets of his birth—he’s a crown prince! #4685 CHRISTMAS BABY FOR THE BILLIONAIRE South Shore Billionaires by Donna Alward Tycoon Jeremy’s world is upended upon discovering his summer romance with resort manager Tori Sharpe left her pregnant! He’s better suited to brokering deals than bringing up babies, but their magical New York Christmas awakens a fierce longing for the family he never had… #4686 FALLING AGAIN FOR HER ISLAND FLING by Ellie Darkins Years ago marine biologist Meena shared a whirlwind fling with tycoon Guy Williams…but afterward an accident stole her memories—and much more. She’s been searching for answers ever since. Now, reunited and working together, could Guy hold the key to her past…and her future?
Harlequin® Romance brings you a collection of four new titles, available now! Experience the rush of falling in love! This Harlequin® Romance box set includes: CONVENIENTLY WED TO THE GREEK by Kandy Shepherd Greek tycoon Alex Mikhalis will do whatever it takes to get even with the blogger who nearly destroyed his reputation—only guarded Adele Hudson isn’t exactly like he remembers. And when Alex discovers she’s pregnant, he soon suggests a very intimate solution: becoming his convenient wife! HIS SHY CINDERELLA by Kate Hardy When racing driver Brandon Stone wants to buy her company, his shy business rival Angel McKenzie has no intention of selling! But Brandon ignites feelings in Angel she never knew existed. He’s the last person she should ever date, but her heart is telling her to break the rules… FALLING FOR THE REBEL PRINCESS by Ellie Darkins For successful music executive Charlie, AKA Princess Caroline of Afland, and rock star Joe Kavanagh, one night in Vegas changes everything… Their marriage is a PR dream come true for Joe, but as their initial attraction turns into something much deeper, can he convince Charlie that they were made for one other? CLAIMED BY THE WEALTHY MAGNATE by Nina Milne One evening with wealthy lawyer Daniel Harrington makes Lady Kaitlin Derwent crave freedom from her tragic past… Daniel’s never believed in love, but Kaitlin opens up new possibilities. Soon he’s determined to show her that by being true to yourself you can find happiness—even in the most unexpected of places!
