The Serenade
(2019)(The second book in the Daughters of the Empire series)
A novel by Suzette Hollingsworth
It's the clash of the titan egos between a diva Parisian opera singer and the crown prince of Spain. His royal highness cannot tolerate Nicolette when she speaks, but he must confront the bizarre truth that when she sings, this bewitching prima donna is the miraculous key to his transformation.
Love finds him, in the most devastating manner possible...
In the grief and heartbreak of being separated from his cherished family, young Prince Alejandro denies his feelings and his very being, bonding irrevocably to the only thing he has left: España. As he was born and bred to do, Alejandro gives his life to Spain.
Now grown, Prince Alejandro is charming, dazzlingly handsome, the most powerful man in his country--and unable to connect to either himself or anyone else.
An Edwardian Royal Romance.
Rating: Sensual and romantic. The focus is on the Romance, adhering to the cultural mores of the time, consistent with historical fiction. Inspired by true events surrounding King Alfonso XIII de Borbón and Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg "Ena", Queen Victoria's favorite granddaughter, and including actual historical figures: the high-born opera singer Blanche Arral; and a supporting cast of historical figures including but not limited to Émile Loubet (the president of France), Abdul Hamid II ("The Red Sultan"), Enrico Caruso the famous tenor, the Marchesi (Blanche's actual opera teacher), the 7th Dragoon Guards (The Princess Royals), and Hippolyte Pixii (One can't make these names up).
***
"A pure delight"
"An incredibly varied experience. It's more than well written and the amount of information given in the story is rich and plentiful without clutter. You will emerge from the story feeling as if you truly journeyed somewhere real and at the same time imagined. It's a beautiful mixture and balance of history and fantasy....and such epic passion. The characters stay with you well after the story 's conclusion. I love it." - Lois, Goodreads
Genre: Historical Romance
Love finds him, in the most devastating manner possible...
In the grief and heartbreak of being separated from his cherished family, young Prince Alejandro denies his feelings and his very being, bonding irrevocably to the only thing he has left: España. As he was born and bred to do, Alejandro gives his life to Spain.
Now grown, Prince Alejandro is charming, dazzlingly handsome, the most powerful man in his country--and unable to connect to either himself or anyone else.
An Edwardian Royal Romance.
Rating: Sensual and romantic. The focus is on the Romance, adhering to the cultural mores of the time, consistent with historical fiction. Inspired by true events surrounding King Alfonso XIII de Borbón and Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg "Ena", Queen Victoria's favorite granddaughter, and including actual historical figures: the high-born opera singer Blanche Arral; and a supporting cast of historical figures including but not limited to Émile Loubet (the president of France), Abdul Hamid II ("The Red Sultan"), Enrico Caruso the famous tenor, the Marchesi (Blanche's actual opera teacher), the 7th Dragoon Guards (The Princess Royals), and Hippolyte Pixii (One can't make these names up).
***
"A pure delight"
"An incredibly varied experience. It's more than well written and the amount of information given in the story is rich and plentiful without clutter. You will emerge from the story feeling as if you truly journeyed somewhere real and at the same time imagined. It's a beautiful mixture and balance of history and fantasy....and such epic passion. The characters stay with you well after the story 's conclusion. I love it." - Lois, Goodreads
Genre: Historical Romance
Used availability for Suzette Hollingsworth's The Serenade