jessenreadsromance's review against another edition
4.0
This was the first pick for the Historical Romance Readathon because obviously I’m obsessed with Julie Garwood!
Princess Alessandra is the perfect mix of naive and unconventionally sassy that is typical of a JG heroine. She’s a little bit sheltered and a little bit too free with her emotions but does this girl have a head for finance! Colin underestimates her severely, pegging her for an empty-headed (but beautiful) girl who his father has conveniently dumped on his doorstep! He’s a broody younger son who has a five-year plan that doesn’t involve the distraction of a wife.
Of course, he doesn’t want anyone else to have Princess Alessandra either. Colin is my least favorite hero from JG. He’s secretive, overbearing at times, and a little bit cruel in some instances. Overall fun read! On to the next one.
Watch my review here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kayJVfVVqtk&t=4s
Princess Alessandra is the perfect mix of naive and unconventionally sassy that is typical of a JG heroine. She’s a little bit sheltered and a little bit too free with her emotions but does this girl have a head for finance! Colin underestimates her severely, pegging her for an empty-headed (but beautiful) girl who his father has conveniently dumped on his doorstep! He’s a broody younger son who has a five-year plan that doesn’t involve the distraction of a wife.
Of course, he doesn’t want anyone else to have Princess Alessandra either. Colin is my least favorite hero from JG. He’s secretive, overbearing at times, and a little bit cruel in some instances. Overall fun read! On to the next one.
Watch my review here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kayJVfVVqtk&t=4s
thanys_thoughts's review against another edition
3.0
More of a 3.5.
I liked Princess Alesandra and Colin. The living situation was a little convenient (a single woman would never be sent to the house of bachelor regardless if he's "family"), but the build up of their relationship was done well. The plot of her captors fizzled out to nothing, and the random serial killer didn't really contribute to the story and was just more disturbing than anything. It also dragged a little bit for me.
I've feel like I've read Julie Garwood, and although her stories are good, I never feel invested in the characters as I feel about other authors.
I liked Princess Alesandra and Colin. The living situation was a little convenient (a single woman would never be sent to the house of bachelor regardless if he's "family"), but the build up of their relationship was done well. The plot of her captors fizzled out to nothing, and the random serial killer didn't really contribute to the story and was just more disturbing than anything. It also dragged a little bit for me.
I've feel like I've read Julie Garwood, and although her stories are good, I never feel invested in the characters as I feel about other authors.
quinn_0611's review against another edition
5.0
This book. Castles by Julie Garwood is one of my favorite historical romances. I've read it a zillion times, and I'll probably read it another zillion times during my lifetime. I never, ever get sick of it. But I decided to switch things up and listen to this via Audio, and it was super fun, although I prefer reading the print version the best.
Castles features a princess, you guys. A princess! Did I ever tell you that I was obsessed with princesses as a kid (okay I still am). So anyway, Alesandra, the heroine, is a princess. Alesandra is very intelligent, especially when it comes to numbers and money and investing. But, of course, that isn't acceptable for women during this time period. So Alesandra finds a way around this because she is freaking awesome. Alesandra is just one of my favorite heroines in romance. She's a list maker, she's nice and thoughtful, but not against a little deceit when need be.
Colin, the hero, is totally swoony. He's my kind of guy. He's trying to build his shipping business with her partner. He's works hard and doesn't really accept help all that well. He's stubborn, especially when it comes to his severely injured leg. He has a plan, and marriage and children don't come into the picture for at least 5 years. But the best laid plans never work out like you expect them too.
From the very beginning, I was rooting for Colin and Alesandra to get together. There is absolutely no doubt that they belong together. Although there has to be conflict that prevents them from getting together immediately, it was never the back and forth stuff that I get frustrated with. And then when they do get together, it's just so darn amazing.
There's a suspense angle to Castles, that also brings some tension into the story. As usual with romance, the suspense angle isn't all that mysterious, but seriously I just don't care. Because Colin and Alesandra are just amazing and I can never get enough of their story. I can say for sure that I will be reading Castles again sometime relatively soon.This review was originally posted on Quinn's Book Nook
Castles features a princess, you guys. A princess! Did I ever tell you that I was obsessed with princesses as a kid (okay I still am). So anyway, Alesandra, the heroine, is a princess. Alesandra is very intelligent, especially when it comes to numbers and money and investing. But, of course, that isn't acceptable for women during this time period. So Alesandra finds a way around this because she is freaking awesome. Alesandra is just one of my favorite heroines in romance. She's a list maker, she's nice and thoughtful, but not against a little deceit when need be.
Colin, the hero, is totally swoony. He's my kind of guy. He's trying to build his shipping business with her partner. He's works hard and doesn't really accept help all that well. He's stubborn, especially when it comes to his severely injured leg. He has a plan, and marriage and children don't come into the picture for at least 5 years. But the best laid plans never work out like you expect them too.
From the very beginning, I was rooting for Colin and Alesandra to get together. There is absolutely no doubt that they belong together. Although there has to be conflict that prevents them from getting together immediately, it was never the back and forth stuff that I get frustrated with. And then when they do get together, it's just so darn amazing.
There's a suspense angle to Castles, that also brings some tension into the story. As usual with romance, the suspense angle isn't all that mysterious, but seriously I just don't care. Because Colin and Alesandra are just amazing and I can never get enough of their story. I can say for sure that I will be reading Castles again sometime relatively soon.This review was originally posted on Quinn's Book Nook
sewcialist_librarian's review against another edition
3.0
4th in the series. Garwood always manages to make the books in this series eye rolling stupid and funny and campy.
joreadsromance's review against another edition
5.0
Fantastically fun book
5 stars
Princess Alesandra has been living in a convent when she becomes the target of an evil general, hell bent on marrying her so he can become king. In order to protect her, Alesandra is shipped off to England where she finds herself living with confirmed bachelor Colin.
Colin has no desire to wed. Alesandra wants to marry for love. But with the two in such close quarters, sparks are soon to fly and their best laid plans might be far behind them. But that doesn't mean it will be easy with so many obstacles to keep them from finding happiness together.
This is the fourth book in a series by [a:Julie Garwood|6251|Julie Garwood|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1414607796p2/6251.jpg], after [b:The Lion's Lady|107783|The Lion's Lady (Crown's Spies, #1)|Julie Garwood|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348750925l/107783._SY75_.jpg|3245791], [b:Guardian Angel|107786|Guardian Angel (Crown's Spies, #2)|Julie Garwood|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1329160566l/107786._SY75_.jpg|126091] and [b:The Gift|107781|The Gift (Crown's Spies, #3)|Julie Garwood|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1329160736l/107781._SY75_.jpg|2643640]. However, reading it without having read the others doesn't detract from the story or the enjoyment gained from the book.
The characters of both Alesandra and Colin were spectacularly depicted and you couldn't help but fall in love with them both and really root for them to get together. They both had flaws but the way they interacted together and how chemistry flared between made it truly magical when they finally got together.
Couple the amazing romance with some laugh out loud moments and a murder mystery sub plot and you get a fantastic book that won't leave you disappointed.
lnzlou55's review against another edition
5.0
Julie Garwood has a way of making me completely fall in love with her characters. Alesandra was a very fun character to read about. It took Colin a while, but he learned to love her just as much as I did. It was great getting to see the other couples from this series again and getting to see them from another persons view. I'm that this was the end of this series.
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