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The Royal House of Niroli #1
The Future King's Pregnant Mistress
It's time for playboy prince Marco to claim his rightful place--on the throne of Niroli. Marco Fierezza is used to being obeyed-- especially by the women he beds. Emily Woodford loves Marco, but she has no idea he's a royal prince. When she discovers the truth she's devastated--Marco only sees her as his mistress--not his royal wife.
But what will this king-in-waiting do when he discovers his mistress is pregnant?
But what will this king-in-waiting do when he discovers his mistress is pregnant?
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 1, 2007
39 people are currently reading
593 people want to read
About the author
Penny Jordan
1,127 books668 followersPenelope Jones Halsall
aka Caroline Courtney, Annie Groves, Lydia Hitchcock, Melinda Wright
Penelope "Penny" Jones was born on November 24, 1946 at about seven pounds in a nursing home in Preston, Lancashire, England. She was the first child of Anthony Winn Jones, an engineer, who died at 85, and his wife Margaret Louise Groves Jones. She has a brother, Anthony, and a sister, Prudence "Pru".
She had been a keen reader from the childhood - her mother used to leave her in the children's section of their local library whilst she changed her father's library books. She was a storyteller long before she began to write romantic fiction. At the age of eight, she was creating serialized bedtime stories, featuring make-believe adventures, for her younger sister Prue, who was always the heroine. At eleven, she fell in love with Mills & Boon, and with their heroes. In those days the books could only be obtained via private lending libraries, and she quickly became a devoted fan; she was thrilled to bits when the books went on full sale in shops and she could have them for keeps.
Penny left grammar school in Rochdale with O-Levels in English Language, English Literature and Geography. She first discovered Mills & Boon books, via a girl she worked with. She married Steve Halsall, an accountant and a "lovely man", who smoked and drank too heavily, and suffered oral cancer with bravery and dignity. Her husband bought her the small electric typewriter on which she typed her first novels, at a time when he could ill afford it. He died at the beginning of 21st century.
She earned a living as a writer since the 1970s when, as a shorthand typist, she entered a competition run by the Romantic Novelists' Association. Although she didn't win, Penny found an agent who was looking for a new Georgette Heyer. She published four regency novels as Caroline Courtney, before changing her nom de plume to Melinda Wright for three air-hostess romps and then she wrote two thrillers as Lydia Hitchcock. Soon after that, Mills and Boon accepted her first novel for them, Falcon's Prey as Penny Jordan. However, for her more historical romance novels, she adopted her mother's maiden-name to become Annie Groves. Almost 70 of her 167 Mills and Boon novels have been sold worldwide.
Penny Halsall lived in a neo-Georgian house in Nantwich, Cheshire, with her Alsatian Sheba and cat Posh. She worked from home, in her kitchen, surrounded by her pets, and welcomed interruptions from her friends and family.
aka Caroline Courtney, Annie Groves, Lydia Hitchcock, Melinda Wright
Penelope "Penny" Jones was born on November 24, 1946 at about seven pounds in a nursing home in Preston, Lancashire, England. She was the first child of Anthony Winn Jones, an engineer, who died at 85, and his wife Margaret Louise Groves Jones. She has a brother, Anthony, and a sister, Prudence "Pru".
She had been a keen reader from the childhood - her mother used to leave her in the children's section of their local library whilst she changed her father's library books. She was a storyteller long before she began to write romantic fiction. At the age of eight, she was creating serialized bedtime stories, featuring make-believe adventures, for her younger sister Prue, who was always the heroine. At eleven, she fell in love with Mills & Boon, and with their heroes. In those days the books could only be obtained via private lending libraries, and she quickly became a devoted fan; she was thrilled to bits when the books went on full sale in shops and she could have them for keeps.
Penny left grammar school in Rochdale with O-Levels in English Language, English Literature and Geography. She first discovered Mills & Boon books, via a girl she worked with. She married Steve Halsall, an accountant and a "lovely man", who smoked and drank too heavily, and suffered oral cancer with bravery and dignity. Her husband bought her the small electric typewriter on which she typed her first novels, at a time when he could ill afford it. He died at the beginning of 21st century.
She earned a living as a writer since the 1970s when, as a shorthand typist, she entered a competition run by the Romantic Novelists' Association. Although she didn't win, Penny found an agent who was looking for a new Georgette Heyer. She published four regency novels as Caroline Courtney, before changing her nom de plume to Melinda Wright for three air-hostess romps and then she wrote two thrillers as Lydia Hitchcock. Soon after that, Mills and Boon accepted her first novel for them, Falcon's Prey as Penny Jordan. However, for her more historical romance novels, she adopted her mother's maiden-name to become Annie Groves. Almost 70 of her 167 Mills and Boon novels have been sold worldwide.
Penny Halsall lived in a neo-Georgian house in Nantwich, Cheshire, with her Alsatian Sheba and cat Posh. She worked from home, in her kitchen, surrounded by her pets, and welcomed interruptions from her friends and family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
April 24, 2017
Seriously ickworthy book.
Hero offers heroine to be married to someone at his court to legitimise the kid. Which means he get to keep both the kid and the mistress. While he'll have legitimate kids within wedlock.
Yet he won't let the heroine go, or marry her, or leave the throne.
He will have it all. Because he's the man and the hero and a royal and it's his birthright to be selfish!
Heroine doesn't matter.
I don't wanna discuss another doormat heroine here.
But let me tell you again!
HE OFFERS TO MARRY HER OFF TO A NOBLEMAN TO LEGITIMISE THE BABY. Not offer her a MOC. Cause he can't marry the mistress.
Please somebody hold my hair while I throw up some more!
Further icky info:
He dumps her because that was always the plan.
Then comes back and tells her she's a good lay and takes her to his kingdom as the "royal mistress " which means she has no room for expectations and he was not subtle about his future marriage plan. I mean the whole kingdom basically knows her new job status and he refused to see what the problem was. Since she WAS just a mistress to him. If baby didn't happen she'd still be mistress. It wasn't until he saw baby on scan he felt anything.
I failed to see when and where the romance came from.
And heroine was TSTL.
Hero offers heroine to be married to someone at his court to legitimise the kid. Which means he get to keep both the kid and the mistress. While he'll have legitimate kids within wedlock.
Yet he won't let the heroine go, or marry her, or leave the throne.
He will have it all. Because he's the man and the hero and a royal and it's his birthright to be selfish!
Heroine doesn't matter.
I don't wanna discuss another doormat heroine here.
But let me tell you again!
HE OFFERS TO MARRY HER OFF TO A NOBLEMAN TO LEGITIMISE THE BABY. Not offer her a MOC. Cause he can't marry the mistress.
Please somebody hold my hair while I throw up some more!
Further icky info:
He dumps her because that was always the plan.
Then comes back and tells her she's a good lay and takes her to his kingdom as the "royal mistress " which means she has no room for expectations and he was not subtle about his future marriage plan. I mean the whole kingdom basically knows her new job status and he refused to see what the problem was. Since she WAS just a mistress to him. If baby didn't happen she'd still be mistress. It wasn't until he saw baby on scan he felt anything.
I failed to see when and where the romance came from.
And heroine was TSTL.
June 2, 2017
Hell bells, who am I trying to kid. With all the angst, hate and bad behavior I know I am going to end up reading this. Open Library.....
REVIEW/RANT
I’m on page 4, he is such a sunuvabitch already.
Let me count the ways…
His Royal Asshole (HRA) has “good reason to know” she’s a blonde. Retching now. The she he is referring to is the heroine. She, of course, stands up the H and won’t take any guff off this asshat. Sure she does. Is that laughter I hear?
2. Shades of
, the King of Neroli, HRA calls himself Mark Fierezza so no one in London will know. Penny, let me just say that THAT kind of media lockdown even in 2004 is pretty impressive. Soooo, I’m assuming that our soon-to-be His Royal Asshole favors reactionary government.
3. Fucking two, or is it three pages, of inner monologuing about how no woman is going to undermine him emotionally. Okay, okay, we get it. Let’s move along before I get my skillet out, HYA. Why don’t use that ego to bring down a super villain. Oh, that’s right. You ARE the super villain.
4. His Royal Asshole hopes tiny h won’t figure out who he is when he leaves London as Neroli has one of the wealthiest if not THE wealthiest royal family’s in the world. No fear, if she’s stupid enough to date you for three years she’s probably too stupid to read a newspaper or watch the news.
5. HYA plans on making some young wife of an older statesman his mistress when he gets back home ‘cause that’s how they roll in Neroli. Be still my heart, you have won me over with your total lack of morals in encouraging a woman to commit adultery. Let’s all guess who will throw the first stone?
6. Okay. Wow. Here’s one I haven’t heard from a Harlequin hero no matter how bad…
There is more but I’m tired, and I have another fish to fry.
Dear Emily,
Let me be frank. You are a fucking idiot.
One, you have no self respect.
Two, you shacked up with His Royal Asshole for three years, and he never put a ring on it. What did you expect? He actually had YOU apologize for being a pesky little virgin the first time youmade love had sex. Now he’s swooped you off to his anachronistic casbah, and you’re happy to live in the present. I don’t care how magical his penis is, HE IS NOT A NICE GUY. And his grandfather sounds as bad or worse if that's possible…The HYA did not fall from the crabby apple tree.
Back to how stupid you are…
Three, he’s setting you up as his mistress in Neroli, and it’s so antiquated there you are going to be slut shamed FOR-EVER. That’s the least of it. What about your business plan as an interior decorator? I doubt you pencilled in Become international side-piece and mistress to His Royal Ass Hat of Neroli. You are not a Kartrashian. The K klan can handle these little humiliations like sex tapes, endless nudity, body deformity that would shock The Capitol
, sex addict boyfriends, 72 day marriages, and, ACK, dating the Biebs. A mistress is kindergarten to them. No, pre-school. Tarts 101. Get the drift? You, on the other hand, are an uptight blonde British interior decorator! British! Do you really think those stuffy Brits are going to be thrilled over this? Initially yes, but the business plan is at risk. THE BUSINESS PLAN!!!!
Four, it is two-thousand and fucking four, sweetie, and any semi-educated 13 year old could tell you the symptoms of pregnancy. And you don’t just have one symptom. Apparently the god of Fertility threw the whole book of
at you, didn't he, and you still don’t have a flipping clue.
Okay, the good stuff…Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
mmmmmmmmmmmmm. Let's see. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
You refused to be some other man’s wife so you could be HYA's back street nasty action. That was good. You schemed quite nicely to escape Neroli. That was really nice as well.
But, too little, too late. Okay, you are not the most stupid heroine in HarleyLand by any means, but your tunnel vision, quivering loins, and doormat tendencies combined with WHAT a jackass His Royal Asshole is create a black hole in romance that none of us can overcome.
Good luck! You’re going to need it.
Kelly
REVIEW/RANT
I’m on page 4, he is such a sunuvabitch already.
Let me count the ways…
His Royal Asshole (HRA) has “good reason to know” she’s a blonde. Retching now. The she he is referring to is the heroine. She, of course, stands up the H and won’t take any guff off this asshat. Sure she does. Is that laughter I hear?
2. Shades of
, the King of Neroli, HRA calls himself Mark Fierezza so no one in London will know. Penny, let me just say that THAT kind of media lockdown even in 2004 is pretty impressive. Soooo, I’m assuming that our soon-to-be His Royal Asshole favors reactionary government. 3. Fucking two, or is it three pages, of inner monologuing about how no woman is going to undermine him emotionally. Okay, okay, we get it. Let’s move along before I get my skillet out, HYA. Why don’t use that ego to bring down a super villain. Oh, that’s right. You ARE the super villain.
4. His Royal Asshole hopes tiny h won’t figure out who he is when he leaves London as Neroli has one of the wealthiest if not THE wealthiest royal family’s in the world. No fear, if she’s stupid enough to date you for three years she’s probably too stupid to read a newspaper or watch the news.
5. HYA plans on making some young wife of an older statesman his mistress when he gets back home ‘cause that’s how they roll in Neroli. Be still my heart, you have won me over with your total lack of morals in encouraging a woman to commit adultery. Let’s all guess who will throw the first stone?
6. Okay. Wow. Here’s one I haven’t heard from a Harlequin hero no matter how bad…
There is more but I’m tired, and I have another fish to fry.
Dear Emily,
Let me be frank. You are a fucking idiot.
One, you have no self respect.
Two, you shacked up with His Royal Asshole for three years, and he never put a ring on it. What did you expect? He actually had YOU apologize for being a pesky little virgin the first time you
Back to how stupid you are…
Three, he’s setting you up as his mistress in Neroli, and it’s so antiquated there you are going to be slut shamed FOR-EVER. That’s the least of it. What about your business plan as an interior decorator? I doubt you pencilled in Become international side-piece and mistress to His Royal Ass Hat of Neroli. You are not a Kartrashian. The K klan can handle these little humiliations like sex tapes, endless nudity, body deformity that would shock The Capitol
, sex addict boyfriends, 72 day marriages, and, ACK, dating the Biebs. A mistress is kindergarten to them. No, pre-school. Tarts 101. Get the drift? You, on the other hand, are an uptight blonde British interior decorator! British! Do you really think those stuffy Brits are going to be thrilled over this? Initially yes, but the business plan is at risk. THE BUSINESS PLAN!!!!Four, it is two-thousand and fucking four, sweetie, and any semi-educated 13 year old could tell you the symptoms of pregnancy. And you don’t just have one symptom. Apparently the god of Fertility threw the whole book of
at you, didn't he, and you still don’t have a flipping clue.Okay, the good stuff…Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
mmmmmmmmmmmmm. Let's see. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
You refused to be some other man’s wife so you could be HYA's back street nasty action. That was good. You schemed quite nicely to escape Neroli. That was really nice as well.
But, too little, too late. Okay, you are not the most stupid heroine in HarleyLand by any means, but your tunnel vision, quivering loins, and doormat tendencies combined with WHAT a jackass His Royal Asshole is create a black hole in romance that none of us can overcome.
Good luck! You’re going to need it.
Kelly
June 18, 2017
Emily is a common woman who loves prince Marco will all her heart. Their affair is passionate and dreamy but when she discovers that Marco is a royal prince and so he must marry a suitable wife she is devastated. According to his grandfather Emily is not queen material since she is a divorcee (a virgin divorcee).
Marco is ready to do the right thing and go back to claim his throne but he cannot forget Emily and how he feels for her. Emily's pregnancy complicates things even further especially when her doctor informs her that her baby is not healthy and he might not survive after all!
Loved the drama, the angst, the sad baby issues, the scorching passion and hero and heroine's chemistry. I miss Penny Jordan so much!!
Marco is ready to do the right thing and go back to claim his throne but he cannot forget Emily and how he feels for her. Emily's pregnancy complicates things even further especially when her doctor informs her that her baby is not healthy and he might not survive after all!
Loved the drama, the angst, the sad baby issues, the scorching passion and hero and heroine's chemistry. I miss Penny Jordan so much!!
August 9, 2020
The I-won't-marry-my-mistress trope has a lot of potential for causing conflict in a story but, lordy, the existence of such tension in this novel doesn't make up for the P.O.S. hero, Marco. What a selfish asshole! These actions highlight how little respect he had for Emily. What makes his behavior so unpalatable and unforgivable is that I'm not even sure Marco truly loved Emily in the end.
And Emily, what a doormat! Once Marco dumped her that should have been her wake-up call. But Emily had no pride, letting Marco resume their sexual relationship without impunity after he'd left her. I don't recall him EVER groveling or apologizing for his jerkwad behavior.
So the book fails big time because both protagonists weren't redeemed. Penny Jordan has written some awesome romances, but this isn't one of them.
And Emily, what a doormat! Once Marco dumped her that should have been her wake-up call. But Emily had no pride, letting Marco resume their sexual relationship without impunity after he'd left her. I don't recall him EVER groveling or apologizing for his jerkwad behavior.
So the book fails big time because both protagonists weren't redeemed. Penny Jordan has written some awesome romances, but this isn't one of them.
July 28, 2017
Relido em 28 de julho de 2017 (Inglês)
Relido em 07 de outubro de 2015 (português)
-------------------
Since the beginning of the relationship, our hero has treated our heroine as a disposable thing. When it was time for him to become King, he would leave her behind and marry someone of noble blood, and according to his position.
He never saw her as someone worthy of becoming his wife, even if she's a virgin when they began dating.
If she hadn't gotten pregnant I doubt he thought of her again except as a mistress according to the laws of Niroli. She would have to marry a member of the Court and submit to stay in the shadows like a second class citizen.
She just created backbone when she saw that she would lose her son to be raised as a bastard of the future King.
Again she would be discarded without a second thought.
But in the end he saw what was at stake and decided to act.
Was a good read and got me hooked from start to finish.
Relido em 07 de outubro de 2015 (português)
-------------------
Since the beginning of the relationship, our hero has treated our heroine as a disposable thing. When it was time for him to become King, he would leave her behind and marry someone of noble blood, and according to his position.
He never saw her as someone worthy of becoming his wife, even if she's a virgin when they began dating.
If she hadn't gotten pregnant I doubt he thought of her again except as a mistress according to the laws of Niroli. She would have to marry a member of the Court and submit to stay in the shadows like a second class citizen.
She just created backbone when she saw that she would lose her son to be raised as a bastard of the future King.
Again she would be discarded without a second thought.
But in the end he saw what was at stake and decided to act.
Was a good read and got me hooked from start to finish.
July 6, 2021
Quick re-read, because I completely forgot that I read it…which I guess is telling. I agree with most of my previous review, but I’m taking a star away, because this one is boring. There’s just nothing there. There’s not really a romance. The H is a jerk, but not cruel enough to entertain.
*********Original Review******
Marco and Emily have been “dating” for three years, but Marco’s been keeping a secret. He’s the future King of Niroli, so the lovebird’s days are numbered. Emily’s in mad love, but she’s got some strikes against her. ✔ She’s a commoner, and only princesses are allowed. ✔ She’s been a mistress, no virgin here. ✔ She’s a divorcee, another no-no. Three strikes…she’s out, and unsuitable wife material.
I originally picked this one up, because it had so many low reviews due to Marco’s assholery, but I found it pretty dull. Marco is a jerk in an “arrogant male chauvinist” sort of way, and he does suggest she become his Royal Mistress which would require marrying her off to some figurehead at court, so she could be at his beck and call while he squeezes her in between time spent with his virgin princess…. But nothing really happens... he’s not overly cruel causing buckets of angst. There is no virgin princess bride, and the asshole gramps grumbles and complains, but doesn’t manipulate. 🥱
Bottom Line- I found this just kind of blah. It isn’t very angsty or dramatastic. Marco’s a jerk, but not bad enough to make this a rage read. He’s been raised to be king, and spoon fed all his responsibility to duty and jughead beliefs. Emily wasn't overly strong or wimpy... it was ok.
*********Original Review******
Marco and Emily have been “dating” for three years, but Marco’s been keeping a secret. He’s the future King of Niroli, so the lovebird’s days are numbered. Emily’s in mad love, but she’s got some strikes against her. ✔ She’s a commoner, and only princesses are allowed. ✔ She’s been a mistress, no virgin here. ✔ She’s a divorcee, another no-no. Three strikes…she’s out, and unsuitable wife material.
I originally picked this one up, because it had so many low reviews due to Marco’s assholery, but I found it pretty dull. Marco is a jerk in an “arrogant male chauvinist” sort of way, and he does suggest she become his Royal Mistress which would require marrying her off to some figurehead at court, so she could be at his beck and call while he squeezes her in between time spent with his virgin princess…. But nothing really happens... he’s not overly cruel causing buckets of angst. There is no virgin princess bride, and the asshole gramps grumbles and complains, but doesn’t manipulate. 🥱
Bottom Line- I found this just kind of blah. It isn’t very angsty or dramatastic. Marco’s a jerk, but not bad enough to make this a rage read. He’s been raised to be king, and spoon fed all his responsibility to duty and jughead beliefs. Emily wasn't overly strong or wimpy... it was ok.
May 21, 2019
4,5 stars
H was the jerk of the jerks and h was the ultimate doormat but because H said that I have brought back the generators because your people, our people, need them, and I have brought Emily back because I need her’. to his king grandfather who was the head jerk, I loved it very much. 😎
H was the jerk of the jerks and h was the ultimate doormat but because H said that I have brought back the generators because your people, our people, need them, and I have brought Emily back because I need her’. to his king grandfather who was the head jerk, I loved it very much. 😎
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 26, 2017
An imaginary island Niroli ruled by grandpa King Dickhead who appears to be living in medieval times. If you can get past the first chapter of how WTF the rules are for royal members of this family, you may enjoy this story which has all the trappings of a classic romance masked as a contemporary novel.
In typical Penny J style, heroine is a sweetheart, angelic to the point of her own detriment but just stops short of being a doormat. Hero appears to be have inherited the worst of grandpa's crazy genes but thankfully redeems himself by the end.
H is supposed to inherit the royal title but since his parents died, is due to take it on sooner than expected. He's been making a name for himself in his own right in London and is very much in lust with his mistress, our sweet h, who is in it purely for lurve and good old-fashioned bonking. Because she is a divorcee, she cannot be his queen so he decides
(1) why ruin a good thing by being honest
(2) you never know, she may actually feel flattered at the respectable title of Official Mistress in his kingdom, especially with the added bonus of an arranged marriage to one of his chosen noblemen.
I had to give it 4 stars simply for point 2. Only Penny J can come up with this delightfully campy vintage twist to provide angst. It should make any respectable woman cringe and gasp but I have a warped sense of humour so I thought it was hilarious.
I liked how frustrated the H was with his grandfather's way of ruling the island but then it got repetitive and became tiresome. Otherwise, as I was feeling nostalgic for Penny J, I wasn't disappointed by this one.
In typical Penny J style, heroine is a sweetheart, angelic to the point of her own detriment but just stops short of being a doormat. Hero appears to be have inherited the worst of grandpa's crazy genes but thankfully redeems himself by the end.
H is supposed to inherit the royal title but since his parents died, is due to take it on sooner than expected. He's been making a name for himself in his own right in London and is very much in lust with his mistress, our sweet h, who is in it purely for lurve and good old-fashioned bonking. Because she is a divorcee, she cannot be his queen so he decides
(1) why ruin a good thing by being honest
(2) you never know, she may actually feel flattered at the respectable title of Official Mistress in his kingdom, especially with the added bonus of an arranged marriage to one of his chosen noblemen.
I had to give it 4 stars simply for point 2. Only Penny J can come up with this delightfully campy vintage twist to provide angst. It should make any respectable woman cringe and gasp but I have a warped sense of humour so I thought it was hilarious.
I liked how frustrated the H was with his grandfather's way of ruling the island but then it got repetitive and became tiresome. Otherwise, as I was feeling nostalgic for Penny J, I wasn't disappointed by this one.
July 18, 2016
Bodrio: Cosa de muy mala calidad, mal hecha, de mal gusto o aburrida.
Qué bueno es resumir en una palabra toda esta novela xD.
El personaje principal es un perro, vive degradando a la heroína y esta se deja con tanta pasividad que put4madre, me exasperó muchísimo. Pero, mamita, hay montones de tipos si no te gusta la plata, dejalo y buscate otro. No siguió mi consejo y el final fue apresurado, dudoso y horrible. Waste of time and money, 'cause, yes, compré esta porquería.
Qué bueno es resumir en una palabra toda esta novela xD.
El personaje principal es un perro, vive degradando a la heroína y esta se deja con tanta pasividad que put4madre, me exasperó muchísimo. Pero, mamita, hay montones de tipos si no te gusta la plata, dejalo y buscate otro. No siguió mi consejo y el final fue apresurado, dudoso y horrible. Waste of time and money, 'cause, yes, compré esta porquería.
August 8, 2015
I did not like this one if she did not end up pregnant by complete fluke they would not be together. He was a bastard and she was a pushover. Guy tell u your a good lay but no way am I ever going to be serious about you and your like sure I love you!???? Wft? Total garbage. I can't believe Pj wrote this.
September 21, 2021
This is the typical trope of all books with similar title.
A man who is king to-be of some fantasy very little and very underdeveloped island has been living for many years under false pretenses as a billionaire, since he wanted to prove himself in the world as a commoner. Yeah right.
He knows one day he will be king and he’ll marry a suitable noble woman, as the laws in his country say, so he has brief affairs with women who knows what they are doing.
He’s very clear: no string, no commitment, and absolutely no children.
He meets young naive divorcée heroine who is also virgin (yeah right again) and has one of these affairs with her, who accepts.
Ok, all clear.
Then she accidentally finds out who he is and leaves him. He goes back to his island but misses the h and go back to her persuading her to accept an engagement as his decorator ( and mistress)
She accepts, but after some time she finds out she’s pregnant and tells him that she doesn’t want her child to grow up like him and tells him she wants to go back home.
He refuses, she runs away.
He follows her and when he finds out their child might have a severe heart condition he decides he will abdicate and will marry the heroine.
Why one star?
- the book is very poorly written, with dialogues that are vapid and insipid.
- the heroine is typical PJ, a wife material, not mistress material. She is very unhappy of her own condition as the hero’s mistress and accepts anything anyway because she loves him, knowing she will never be happy because he will have to marry and produce children one day, and not with her.
- their affair lasts 3 years. 3 years???? None of them makes a move to change their conditions? How hypocritical is this?
- the rules of the island are so very backward that the book seems to be set in 1800. A royal mistress who is a woman married with a nobleman chosen by the king and is the official ho of the king??? Really??? And he proposes this obscenity to the h when she was pregnant?? Wtf????
- the hero is the most male chauvinist I’ve read in some time. Some great lot of time. He’s also a narcissist and a selfish bastard. He’s always thinking of himself, what he wants, what’s best for him, what he feels. He never cares about the heroine’s feelings. Not once.
The man is an ape, and it’s an insult to the apes of the world. The only thing he wants from the heroine is sex. And it seems to me that the heroine wants him only for sex too, since he’s too stupid and bastard to be loved. He’s a very unlovable man.
-in the end he makes a 180 turnaround and changes completely but my impression is that he does it because of his child, not for the heroine’s sake.
For all it has, I didn’t feel any angst. It’s too absurd and both characters are really despicable, she because she goes against all her principles, he because he has got none.
So no, this book was really a bad trip and I can’t recommend it.
A man who is king to-be of some fantasy very little and very underdeveloped island has been living for many years under false pretenses as a billionaire, since he wanted to prove himself in the world as a commoner. Yeah right.
He knows one day he will be king and he’ll marry a suitable noble woman, as the laws in his country say, so he has brief affairs with women who knows what they are doing.
He’s very clear: no string, no commitment, and absolutely no children.
He meets young naive divorcée heroine who is also virgin (yeah right again) and has one of these affairs with her, who accepts.
Ok, all clear.
Then she accidentally finds out who he is and leaves him. He goes back to his island but misses the h and go back to her persuading her to accept an engagement as his decorator ( and mistress)
She accepts, but after some time she finds out she’s pregnant and tells him that she doesn’t want her child to grow up like him and tells him she wants to go back home.
He refuses, she runs away.
He follows her and when he finds out their child might have a severe heart condition he decides he will abdicate and will marry the heroine.
Why one star?
- the book is very poorly written, with dialogues that are vapid and insipid.
- the heroine is typical PJ, a wife material, not mistress material. She is very unhappy of her own condition as the hero’s mistress and accepts anything anyway because she loves him, knowing she will never be happy because he will have to marry and produce children one day, and not with her.
- their affair lasts 3 years. 3 years???? None of them makes a move to change their conditions? How hypocritical is this?
- the rules of the island are so very backward that the book seems to be set in 1800. A royal mistress who is a woman married with a nobleman chosen by the king and is the official ho of the king??? Really??? And he proposes this obscenity to the h when she was pregnant?? Wtf????
- the hero is the most male chauvinist I’ve read in some time. Some great lot of time. He’s also a narcissist and a selfish bastard. He’s always thinking of himself, what he wants, what’s best for him, what he feels. He never cares about the heroine’s feelings. Not once.
The man is an ape, and it’s an insult to the apes of the world. The only thing he wants from the heroine is sex. And it seems to me that the heroine wants him only for sex too, since he’s too stupid and bastard to be loved. He’s a very unlovable man.
-in the end he makes a 180 turnaround and changes completely but my impression is that he does it because of his child, not for the heroine’s sake.
For all it has, I didn’t feel any angst. It’s too absurd and both characters are really despicable, she because she goes against all her principles, he because he has got none.
So no, this book was really a bad trip and I can’t recommend it.
January 4, 2015
Hero was pretty much an ass. This story revolves around a prince who can't marry his divorced mistress. He refuses to recognize that he loves her. So he is planning to leave her behind and return to rule his kingdom and eventually marry a princess. Nothing really new here. Biggest problem for me was he was the heir to the richest kingdom in the world but managed to live incognito for nearly 20 years? Not buying it.
July 12, 2021
Not that impressive, and honestly, it’s oddly explicit for an HP.
September 7, 2020
PJ had the bad luck to draw the straw of introducing a fictional kingdom that will be the backdrop for a new series. Who will be king? Who will be his queen? Unfortunately, all that background info takes away from the romance.
The flashbacks (which are mainly sex scenes – since that is the basis of their relationship) take away from the real-time romance/angst as well.
The relationship of the H/h is superficial enough to be novella-length, really. The hero is a prince in disguise as a billionaire tycoon. He swoops in on the virgin heroine and promises a no-strings attached relationship.
When the story opens, they have been together for three years.
Quickly it is established that:
The heroine is delusional thinking the hero will eventually love her.
The hero is delusional thinking he will eventually forget all about her when he has to take the throne.
The hero predictably breaks the heroine’s heart. The heroine, predictably, rolls over and agrees to decorate rooms for the hero is in his home country (with some sex on the side).
The H/h only break out of their doormat/alphahole pattern when the heroine finally clues in that she’s pregnant.
Trigger: the heroine gets bad news during an ultrasound (it turns out to be nothing) but if medical uncertainties bother you – this will bother you.
This isn’t a terrible story – but I had to give it two stars because I skipped all the sex scenes and court intrigue because - boring. Boring always earns two stars.
The flashbacks (which are mainly sex scenes – since that is the basis of their relationship) take away from the real-time romance/angst as well.
The relationship of the H/h is superficial enough to be novella-length, really. The hero is a prince in disguise as a billionaire tycoon. He swoops in on the virgin heroine and promises a no-strings attached relationship.
When the story opens, they have been together for three years.
Quickly it is established that:
The heroine is delusional thinking the hero will eventually love her.
The hero is delusional thinking he will eventually forget all about her when he has to take the throne.
The hero predictably breaks the heroine’s heart. The heroine, predictably, rolls over and agrees to decorate rooms for the hero is in his home country (with some sex on the side).
The H/h only break out of their doormat/alphahole pattern when the heroine finally clues in that she’s pregnant.
Trigger: the heroine gets bad news during an ultrasound (it turns out to be nothing) but if medical uncertainties bother you – this will bother you.
This isn’t a terrible story – but I had to give it two stars because I skipped all the sex scenes and court intrigue because - boring. Boring always earns two stars.
June 4, 2021
It's time for playboy prince Marco to claim his rightful place--on the throne of Niroli. Marco Fierezza is used to being obeyed-- especially by the women he beds. Emily Woodford loves Marco, but she has no idea he's a royal prince. When she discovers the truth she's devastated--Marco only sees her as his mistress--not his royal wife. But what will this king-in-waiting do when he discovers his mistress is pregnant?
October 13, 2018
Marco Fierezza is the heir to the throne of Niroli. A prince belonging to the wealthiest family in the world, he has a dearth of the wealth called wisdom. I just couldn't warm up to Marco till the very end, when it was too little, to late to redeem him. He is a completely fucked up character otherwise, blame his grandfather, his upbringing, or anything. His thoughts are very, very old school, always stuck on sex, and how to keep a mistress after becoming the King.
Emily runs her own interior designing business and doesn't accept anything material from him but, Marco still thinks that she is only there - with him - for his money (all thanks to his grandfather, the King's teachings!). He is a really outdated guy, with archaic thoughts, reading about whom just disgusted me at times. Ugh ... *the reviewer just went to cleanse her brains*
Emily runs her own interior designing business and doesn't accept anything material from him but, Marco still thinks that she is only there - with him - for his money (all thanks to his grandfather, the King's teachings!). He is a really outdated guy, with archaic thoughts, reading about whom just disgusted me at times. Ugh ... *the reviewer just went to cleanse her brains*
July 2, 2012
This was an ok read -- the story made sense and it was readable. I don't love the "won't marry a mistress" trope, so I was already inclined not to love this one. Still, it wasn't terrible, and there was some good angst, so overall it was ok.
September 7, 2019
2.5
Emily and Marco have been lovers for the past 3 years, since Emily accepted Marco’s limitations for their relationship, relegating her to mistress only. Since then, Emily has fallen in love with Marco, but she has no idea that he’s actually the Prince of Niroli and unable to give her more than the relationship they share. And even that has to end soon because Marco is returning to his country to become its king. But Marco isn’t ready to give up Emily, so he invites her to Niroli to be his secret mistress there. Emily agrees and struggles through the rigid traditions of Marco’s home country and watches the man she loves suffer through his responsibility and duty. When Emily learns she’s pregnant, she refuses to raise her child in such an environment, or with a man who loves the power of being a king more than he loves her.
This started out with about 40 pages of flashback and internal monologuing. Marco talks to himself about his raging passion for Emily which is definitely NOT love because no way would he be that weak and vulnerable, and how he has to end it soon and all that. Emily thinks back to all those sweeter moments in the past when he would punish her with arousal for trying to seek some control in the relationship or when he doggedly pursued her and seduced her into a relationship with no future. And they remember their sexy times. This wasn’t the most exciting start to a story, let me tell you. It took a while to slog through it - lots of background being established through these flashbacks and inner monologuing.
Moving on a bit forward, Emily isn’t feeling so hot, but she has no idea why. She’s hanging around at their shared home when she finds the letter from Marco’s grandfather inviting him back to become king of Niroli...and that’s when Marco walks in. Emily confronts him with his duplicity and is furious that he could hide part of himself like that for 3 whole years. And just as she’s ready to walk out, he pulls her into an embrace and she becomes an undignified puddle of goo. But Marco is clear - that was the end. That’s not the first or the last time that Emily lets her lust (love) for Marco turn her into a doormat, which made it tough to like her. She does it again when she agrees to return to Niroli. She knows she can’t be more than a mistress to him, yet she goes to him, not caring that she’s now his piece on the side for all to disdain (it sucks that he doesn’t seem to care either). She abandons all anger at his lying to her and leaving her quite callously when he calls, so that she can live in the moment and make the most of every second she has with the man she loves (before he has to chuck her aside and marry anyway. He claims they could at least have the summer together). Ugh. And Marco - he’s so clueless about his own feelings. This is quite typical of HPlandia really. He’s so determined that it’s just lust and he can quit her if he wants, but underneath it all is some burnin’ love that he keeps mistaking for heartburn. And in true HPlandia fashion, only time apart and heroine-suffering will show him the truth.
Then Emily finds out she’s pregnant, Marco is adamant that she’ll raise that baby right in Niroli where his future heir can suffer all the duty and responsibility that Marco grew up hating. He even suggests a Niroli tradition where she become Royal Mistress by marrying some old geezer to give her legitimacy while Marco can boink her with the old geezer’s approval (as well as the rest of Nirolian society). It’s barbaric sounding enough to create the appropriate horror and angst from the heroine and send her scurrying off disillusioned by her love’s “true” personality (when in fact he’s just desperate to have it all). But Emily manages to escape, but her pregnancy has a complication, which brings the suffering that shows Marco how much he’s willing to give up for our heroine. It’s an okay story I guess... The hero is pretty much a crass, callous and clueless douche and the heroine was overly doormatty. Also, this got pretty dragged down by all the reminiscing and mental talking in the beginning. But it is kind of a train-wreck in how OTT it is, and I kind of liked the jaw-dropping moments of douchbaggery and doomattishness, but mostly no.
Emily and Marco have been lovers for the past 3 years, since Emily accepted Marco’s limitations for their relationship, relegating her to mistress only. Since then, Emily has fallen in love with Marco, but she has no idea that he’s actually the Prince of Niroli and unable to give her more than the relationship they share. And even that has to end soon because Marco is returning to his country to become its king. But Marco isn’t ready to give up Emily, so he invites her to Niroli to be his secret mistress there. Emily agrees and struggles through the rigid traditions of Marco’s home country and watches the man she loves suffer through his responsibility and duty. When Emily learns she’s pregnant, she refuses to raise her child in such an environment, or with a man who loves the power of being a king more than he loves her.
This started out with about 40 pages of flashback and internal monologuing. Marco talks to himself about his raging passion for Emily which is definitely NOT love because no way would he be that weak and vulnerable, and how he has to end it soon and all that. Emily thinks back to all those sweeter moments in the past when he would punish her with arousal for trying to seek some control in the relationship or when he doggedly pursued her and seduced her into a relationship with no future. And they remember their sexy times. This wasn’t the most exciting start to a story, let me tell you. It took a while to slog through it - lots of background being established through these flashbacks and inner monologuing.
Moving on a bit forward, Emily isn’t feeling so hot, but she has no idea why. She’s hanging around at their shared home when she finds the letter from Marco’s grandfather inviting him back to become king of Niroli...and that’s when Marco walks in. Emily confronts him with his duplicity and is furious that he could hide part of himself like that for 3 whole years. And just as she’s ready to walk out, he pulls her into an embrace and she becomes an undignified puddle of goo. But Marco is clear - that was the end. That’s not the first or the last time that Emily lets her lust (love) for Marco turn her into a doormat, which made it tough to like her. She does it again when she agrees to return to Niroli. She knows she can’t be more than a mistress to him, yet she goes to him, not caring that she’s now his piece on the side for all to disdain (it sucks that he doesn’t seem to care either). She abandons all anger at his lying to her and leaving her quite callously when he calls, so that she can live in the moment and make the most of every second she has with the man she loves (before he has to chuck her aside and marry anyway. He claims they could at least have the summer together). Ugh. And Marco - he’s so clueless about his own feelings. This is quite typical of HPlandia really. He’s so determined that it’s just lust and he can quit her if he wants, but underneath it all is some burnin’ love that he keeps mistaking for heartburn. And in true HPlandia fashion, only time apart and heroine-suffering will show him the truth.
Then Emily finds out she’s pregnant, Marco is adamant that she’ll raise that baby right in Niroli where his future heir can suffer all the duty and responsibility that Marco grew up hating. He even suggests a Niroli tradition where she become Royal Mistress by marrying some old geezer to give her legitimacy while Marco can boink her with the old geezer’s approval (as well as the rest of Nirolian society). It’s barbaric sounding enough to create the appropriate horror and angst from the heroine and send her scurrying off disillusioned by her love’s “true” personality (when in fact he’s just desperate to have it all). But Emily manages to escape, but her pregnancy has a complication, which brings the suffering that shows Marco how much he’s willing to give up for our heroine. It’s an okay story I guess... The hero is pretty much a crass, callous and clueless douche and the heroine was overly doormatty. Also, this got pretty dragged down by all the reminiscing and mental talking in the beginning. But it is kind of a train-wreck in how OTT it is, and I kind of liked the jaw-dropping moments of douchbaggery and doomattishness, but mostly no.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 20, 2014
i was thouroughly disgusted by emily's clingy attitude. she was incredibly pathetic and i felt sorry for her. she had no self-respect where marco was concerned! the man was ruthless, cruel and abusive. abusive psychologically ! the things he got away saying to her! i was horribly appalled as he suggested she married a noble man so he cud keep his son and at the same time her as well, for entertainment. i cud never forgive such garbage!
September 6, 2014
Esperaba mas de la historia, a pesar de ser una novela de harlequin.
No estuvo mal para pasar el rato.
2.5 Estrellas!
July 14, 2012
This series is definitely a contender for WPXI!!
March 27, 2022
A commoner romancing a Prince (of an imaginary kingdom, of course) and managing to drag him into sweet matrimony is a lovely dreamy premise. Doesn't matter if its been done a million times, it can be fun to read if written well.
PJ manages to breathe some life into this tale, but doesn't get it 100% right. The fairy tale quality that's the best part of these tales was missing. It was too prosaic !
Emily and Prince Marco are already in a live-in for 3 years in London. She doesn't know he is a prince. She doesn't like his high handed behavior, but she is too deep into the relationship to pull out.
Marco thinks Emily is strictly mistress material. Someone to be discarded as soon as his royal duties beckon him. Just not yet.
When its time to go into some fantasy La La Land and take over as prince, he breaks it up with Emily and goes alone. But remembers her there, too often. He is puzzled why a mere mistress is occupying so much of his mindspace !
Then he devices some funny formula to get Emily into La La Land to continue with mistress duties. And he is mighty thrilled with this plan !
Emily, the faithful doormat puts up a token resistance. And then happily tags along. But the good old pregnancy hurdle surfaces.
Marco starts making some more brilliant plans to continue holding on to Emily as royal mistress !@!#@#@# His idea is to get her married off to some royal servant or general or something. And continue with the clandestine business !!!
PJ, these sort of super duper ideas are ok when they occur to alpha heroes within the first 10 pages of a story. Afterwards they are supposed to become besotted, possessive, jealous, you know the drill... You can't suggest this "marry someone else and carry on with me" nonsense 20 pages before the HEA !!!!!!!!!!
Anyway, that's the point of no return for doormatty Emily. She walks out. Marco comes rushing, to woo her back.
There is some small scare about the child having a birth defect, which surfaces during one of the doctor visits. Adversity always unites warring hearts, no ? So the prince relinquishes his throne and takes up normal husband+daddy duties as a commoner in London. And that's the HEA.
OK read. Had the potential to be something special. But no, it did not deliver.
PJ manages to breathe some life into this tale, but doesn't get it 100% right. The fairy tale quality that's the best part of these tales was missing. It was too prosaic !
Emily and Prince Marco are already in a live-in for 3 years in London. She doesn't know he is a prince. She doesn't like his high handed behavior, but she is too deep into the relationship to pull out.
Marco thinks Emily is strictly mistress material. Someone to be discarded as soon as his royal duties beckon him. Just not yet.
When its time to go into some fantasy La La Land and take over as prince, he breaks it up with Emily and goes alone. But remembers her there, too often. He is puzzled why a mere mistress is occupying so much of his mindspace !
Then he devices some funny formula to get Emily into La La Land to continue with mistress duties. And he is mighty thrilled with this plan !
Emily, the faithful doormat puts up a token resistance. And then happily tags along. But the good old pregnancy hurdle surfaces.
Marco starts making some more brilliant plans to continue holding on to Emily as royal mistress !@!#@#@# His idea is to get her married off to some royal servant or general or something. And continue with the clandestine business !!!
PJ, these sort of super duper ideas are ok when they occur to alpha heroes within the first 10 pages of a story. Afterwards they are supposed to become besotted, possessive, jealous, you know the drill... You can't suggest this "marry someone else and carry on with me" nonsense 20 pages before the HEA !!!!!!!!!!
Anyway, that's the point of no return for doormatty Emily. She walks out. Marco comes rushing, to woo her back.
There is some small scare about the child having a birth defect, which surfaces during one of the doctor visits. Adversity always unites warring hearts, no ? So the prince relinquishes his throne and takes up normal husband+daddy duties as a commoner in London. And that's the HEA.
OK read. Had the potential to be something special. But no, it did not deliver.
March 16, 2021
Marco is a dick 90% of the book, and it made it pretty impossible to see what Emily might have fallen in love with. Emily is far too much of a doormat the whole book...falling into bed with Marco again and again despite him treating her like crap (and trying to marry her off to some “older” nobleman so that he can keep sleeping with her as his “royal mistress” WTF, way to condone adultery Nirolian Royal Family). Also...I’d have guessed someone might be pregnant based on the symptoms listed when I was 12 years old. Fatigue, nausea, vomiting, aversion to certain smells, sensitive breasts, I have to assume no period or a significantly lighter “period” than usual...”get thee a pregnancy test,” says 12 year old me!
July 1, 2024
The Future King's Pregnant Mistress is the first book in the series, of The Royal House of Niroli.
Let me honestly tell you , l could not put this down, l read this in a day , and late into the night, it was very dynamic and very entertaining.
If you Love strong alpha, dominate, proud, sexy , wealthy and throw in soon to be king, then you will love this story .
What took me by surprise, was the strong storyline, and the huge surprise, was the ending , it was so awesome 👌
The main Character Marco really was a character that developed so well , he became humble and learnt what's lmportant in life, what the true meaning of love and family is 🧡
Worth the Read 📚
Let me honestly tell you , l could not put this down, l read this in a day , and late into the night, it was very dynamic and very entertaining.
If you Love strong alpha, dominate, proud, sexy , wealthy and throw in soon to be king, then you will love this story .
What took me by surprise, was the strong storyline, and the huge surprise, was the ending , it was so awesome 👌
The main Character Marco really was a character that developed so well , he became humble and learnt what's lmportant in life, what the true meaning of love and family is 🧡
Worth the Read 📚
May 15, 2018
Uh good start...I guess? The author wrote so in depth about things that didn't matter a lot of the time, that it became distracting. The characters I think were so set on their paths that the last minute change didn't make a whole lot of sense. The grandfather was a bit evil and it was never addressed. The hero wanted to help his country and the grandfather was determined never to let anything change and in the end? Nothing did! The random panic at the end felt as if it was out of a different book. Not worth the premise.
June 3, 2017
I have never hated a book as much as i did with this one. I mean, the hero was a proper wanker and the herione was just annoying and pretty much a push over. Nothing and i mean absolutely nothing redeemed this story for me. It was just a icky read. I love reading books by Penny Jordan but this one really missed the mark for me. My advise... don't bother wasting your time to read this. That's 3 hours of my life I'm never getting back.
September 23, 2023
Completely agree with other reviewer's perfect description as "seriously ick worthy"
Just reinforces idea that man can treat a woman like less than crap and tell you the relationship is never gonna amount to anything more than sex BUT if you wait long enough (and throw in a baby for good measure) he'll change his mind and marry you.
Just reinforces idea that man can treat a woman like less than crap and tell you the relationship is never gonna amount to anything more than sex BUT if you wait long enough (and throw in a baby for good measure) he'll change his mind and marry you.
June 24, 2018
It Is a good read but leaves thing unanswered without an ending
choose this rating because of the ending
didn't like how it attends an ending
I like penny Jordan s books but not this one
Sorry
choose this rating because of the ending
didn't like how it attends an ending
I like penny Jordan s books but not this one
Sorry
April 6, 2019
I literally had trouble holding back my bile as I read this. Emily is the most pathetic creature ever created in fiction. I have seen crack whores with more spine than this...character.
If you want to keep your lunch, don't read it.
If you want to keep your lunch, don't read it.
August 28, 2023
Carino, niente di che, devo ammettere che questo genere di libro mi piace di solito, ma questa volta con la protagonista zerbino e lui che cambia solo nelle ultime pagine mi ha lasciato l'amaro in bocca
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