Series:
Christmas at the Harrington Park Hotel (Book 2)
Can two strangers…
…become one family?
Designer Sally Harrington falls -- literally! -- into the
arms of a handsome stranger. And, after one spontaneous night, Sally's life
changes forever… She's pregnant! But there's another shock to come. Her mystery
man turns out to be Prince Edward of Tianlipin! As their two worlds collide and
family duty threatens the magic this pair share…there may be one more Christmas
surprise coming their way…
Good holiday story. Sally is one of the three Harrington
siblings who have regained ownership of their family hotel, Harrington Park. Sally
is in charge of the hotel's design elements, including plans for a rooftop
garden. While researching similar setups in Singapore, she meets Edward Chen
when he rescues her after she falls into the hotel pool. Each has reasons for maintaining
a low profile, so they quickly retreat to his suite to recover from their
dunking. The sparks between them are undeniable, and an evening of food and
conversation becomes a passionate one-night stand with no expectation of seeing
each other again.
Five weeks later, Sally is back in Singapore and
discovers that her extreme jet lag is a symptom of something more permanent.
Shocked by the realization, she's further stunned when she discovers that
Edward is also the Crown Prince of Tianlipin. She knows she needs to tell him
about the baby and wangles a ticket to a charity event where she might be able
to see him. Edward is elated to see the woman he hasn't been able to forget. The
chemistry between them is still there. After hearing her news, he sweeps her
away to his island home.
I liked Edward and Sally. Sally is an independent woman
who is ambitious and determined. After several losses early in life, she closed
off her emotions to prevent being hurt again. Being around Edward breaks down
those walls, but she sees no road to happiness in their future. She is adamant that
she is quite capable of raising her child on her own, though her heart dreams that
they could be together.
Edward is caught between a rock and a hard place. As
Crown Prince, his parents have arranged a political marriage for him. He isn't
happy about it and doesn't even like his prospective fiancee. I loved his care
and concern for Sally and enjoyed watching him care for her. The more time they
spend together, the deeper their connection grows, and their feelings become
stronger.
I ached for both as their love grew. Edward wants Sally
and the baby in his life, but he also knows he has a duty to his country. I
could feel their pain as they parted with the knowledge that the life they
wanted was impossible. Fortunately, Edward doesn't give up the fight. I loved
the ending and seeing him show up in London to offer Sally his heart. There was
a fun little twist that shouldn't have been too big a surprise given their
family histories. The epilogue was terrific, and I loved the peek at their future.
I enjoyed the lush descriptions of Singapore and Edward's
island home. I also liked learning about his family, culture, and traditions;
they added extra depth to his character. I also enjoyed learning more about Sally's
family traditions, especially as they related to the hotel. I loved her amended
ideas for the hotel garden and seeing it come to fruition at the end.
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