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Royal Duology #1

The Playboy Prince and the Nanny

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Prince Diego Navarro is the “spare” to his brother's “heir”. While Raoul performs his crown prince duties with the appropriate sense of nobility and poise, Diego’s garnered a bit of a reputation as a playboy - despite the good he does behind the scenes with his favorite charities.

But when tragedy strikes and his sister-in-law is killed in a car accident, Diego knows it's time for the playboy to step up. If not for his brother, then for his niece and nephew, who now find themselves without a mother.

Which is where Rose Walters comes in.

Rose isn't intimidated by money or glitz. The veteran nanny has worked for the rich and minimally famous, but a manor house is no comparison to a castle… or the handsome princes who live there. However, the worst thing she could possibly do is fall for the gorgeous playboy with a surprising heart of gold. He’s a prince; she’s the help. He lives in the tabloids; she loves her privacy. But when her two darling charges start to play matchmaker, Diego and Rose don’t stand a chance.

The Playboy Prince and the Nanny is the first book in Donna Alward's royal duology.

218 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 2017

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About the author

Donna Alward

269 books680 followers
Since 2006, New York Times bestseller Donna Jones Alward has enchanted readers with stories of happy endings and homecomings that have won several awards and been translated into over a dozen languages. She’s worked as an administrative assistant, teaching assistant, in retail and as a stay-at-home-mom, but always knew her degree in English Literature would pay off, as she is now happy to be a full-time writer. Her new historical fiction tales blend her love of history with characters who step beyond their biggest fears to claim the lives they desire.

Donna currently lives in Nova Scotia, Canada, with her husband and cats. You can often find her near the water, either kayaking on the lake or walking the sandy beaches to refill her creative well.

Find out more at www.donnajonesalward.com

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
Profile Image for Nicola.
1,390 reviews281 followers
July 28, 2017
"You’re the Playboy Prince. I’m just some plain English girl."

To sum up the reading experience of The Playboy Prince and the Nanny:

description

Sometimes you just need a fairytale romance to lose yourself in for a couple of hours—short, sweet and easygoing with a hero who makes you swoon— and that's exactly what Donna Alward has created between said playboy prince and British nanny.

"I’m staff, you’re royalty, and never the twain shall meet.

With a Cinderella feel, for what this book lacks in sexy-time—it's closed door in intimacy—it makes up for in feeling with emotions running high as the palace comes to terms with the sudden death of Crown Prince Raoul's wife and their children's nanny. Rose is the breath of fresh air they need, bringing stability, hope and joy back into the children's lives...and to Prince Diego's.

"You see me, Rose."


description

With an air of the forbidden and many stolen moments, Rose and Diego have a closeness and affection that holds this story together without needing anything more between them. There were a couple of minor niggles for me with Rose's family situation seeming to add little to the story and certain aspects of importance being told rather than shown, but overall I did love these characters together.

"You make me want to be a better man, Rose. And that is something I have never felt before."


With a real down-to-earth feel, children who stole my heart and a Royal Family who ingratiated themselves, The Playboy Prince and the Nanny played out pretty much as expected and with hints given towards Raoul's story, I'm looking forward to seeing how the heir to the throne will lose his heart.

Copy received courtesy of St. Martin's Press for an honest and unbiased opinion.

description
Profile Image for Claire.
2,320 reviews736 followers
August 2, 2017
3.5 - "I'm the nanny. You're a prince..." Stars!

Donna Alward starts off her Royal Duology with a nice and easy read in The Playboy Prince and the Nanny.



If you are a lover of Harlequin style romance, then this will be right up your street, it’s well written, easy to get along with, low drama, pretty predictable in its telling, but I am all for a little escapism and that is exactly what Rose and Diego’s story offered.

"I am just a man… The title… that’s an accident of birth. And yes, as you said today, I live a certain way. It comes with the title. But underneath all this… I’m just flesh and blood, same as you."

This is a PG-13 style romance with very little in the way of visible action taking place between our couple, but it wasn’t a major issue as the story in itself was sweet and didn’t really require the heat factor in it, if you know what I mean.

"You came in like a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day."

The second book The Crown Prince’s Bride is due for release in early 2018, and it would be one I’d happily spend a couple of hours reading. Nothing like a single daddy/widower to get the feels going!

ARC generously provided via Netgalley, in exchange for the above honest review.
Profile Image for DJ Sakata.
3,192 reviews1,769 followers
January 1, 2018
Favorite Quote:

I gave my heart away quite a while ago. It hasn’t come back to me yet.

My Review:

I almost passed this one by for fear it might be a cheesy princess tale, but my admiration for the author had me take a second look. Lucky me, it was not cheesy at all and was a rather sweet and heart-squeezing read with endearing and lovable characters. It was a quick, entertaining, and satisfying read. I enjoyed it so much I’m ready to dive into the next book, pronto.
Profile Image for Catherine (The Sassy Bookster).
717 reviews62 followers
August 4, 2017
If you love Harlequin/Mills & Boon type of romances, then THE PLAYBOY PRINCE AND THE NANNY is exactly the kind of book you would love to read. This book had a few more items in the con column (royals, clichéd playboy prince and the help story-line) than the pro column (the author) and is really too sweet for my tastes, but I finished another series by the author that I really enjoyed not too long ago and I decided to go for it after all.

It was as sweet as I expected (think 'Sound of Music', 'Mary Poppins'), with a Cinderella-like feel to it, quite predictable and easygoing, but it also had a lot of heart and feeling to it and was a welcome change from my usual fare.

Prince Diego Navarro is the spare heir to the throne, free of royal responsibilities and has earned his reputation as a fun-loving playboy. But when tragedy strikes the royal family, Diego is quick to step up to the task of supporting his father and elder brother, with the help of professional nanny, Rose Walters.

Rose has worked hard for her reputation as a highly sought-after nanny but working with royalty is a whole new ballgame for her, especially with the attendant publicity for a woman who values her privacy, even more when she finds herself developing feelings for the prince, a wonderful guy with a really big heart, much more than his reputation would have you believe. But it's not just the prince Rose has a soft spot for. Her two young charges are adorable enough to melt even the hardest heart and couple with the royal family who treats her more like family than the hired help, it's hard for her to maintain a professional distance.

But can the magic continue past midnight for Rose, or will her carriage turn into a pumpkin at midnight? This was a sweet and charming story and I enjoyed all of the characters, a perfect book for a anyone in need of a fairy-tale themed romance.

Disclaimer: I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely mine.
Profile Image for Sissy's Romance Book Review .
8,910 reviews16 followers
July 30, 2017
Book Review For: The Playboy Prince and the Nanny by Donna Alward 'The Playboy Prince and the Nanny' by Donna Alward is the First in a New Series called "Royal Duology". This is the story of Prince Diego Navarro and Rose Walters. Diego has a heart of gold and does his charitable work but what he is know for and what he can't get past is being a Playboy. Since he is the second son nothing really is expected of him. But when Diego learns of his sister-in law, Princess Cecilia death along with the long time Nanny, Diego knows he must return home to help the family. So Diego helps with the business end and his sister Lucy seem to be trying to take care of house end, giving their brother some time to grieve. But now Diego is back home and sees how his family is still hurting. Rose is a English Nanny that is hired for the two children, 4 year old Max and six year old Emilia. Max and Emilia are the two children of Princess Celia, lucky the children were only bruised really bad from the accident. But its been a month since their lost and Rose is just now starting the job. Rose has met Diego once before but it seem he does not remember it. Rose tries to be professional with Diego but its hard between him and the kids. This was really a sweet Romantic story that is surprising hard to put down!"My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read."https://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/A2H... https://twitter.com/soapsrus68 https://www.facebook.com/RomanceBookR... http://booklikes.com/bloghttps://roma... https://www.tumblr.com/blog/romancebo...
 
Profile Image for Ann Lorz.
1,688 reviews22 followers
August 1, 2017
Reviewed for Romancing the Readers Blog: https://romancingthereaders.blogspot....

In the past year or so I've been really enjoying books by Donna Alward. I always love finding new authors that I keep wanting to read and she is one of them. Now I see her name and just get it. Thanks how much her books appeal to me. She's a auto buy.

I will admit that when I first started reading The Playboy Prince and the Nanny I thought about Nora Roberts and her royal series. I think Susan Mallery had a royal series too. Can't remember the titles for those.

But the point I made about how it reminded me of the series Nora did wasn't because I felt they were the same story, more like this on reminded me more of a Harlequin story that's all.

It's a very sweet, romantic story that doesn't have a ton of conflict in it. Once or twice I will admit that I thought Rose was acting a little offish, but it fit for the story line so that was good.

Both Rose and Diego will keep you reading their story. But they aren't the only ones that stand out, Diego brother and his kids do too! You'll really want their happy story.

I'm so glad I read The Playboy Prince and the Nanny. It's a sweet, quick read!


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ARC received for a honest review
Profile Image for Julie (Let's Read Good Books).
1,659 reviews487 followers
August 8, 2017
3.75 to 4 stars

Ahhhhh. Thankfully, the taint from my previous read has been blissfully washed away. When I get into a reading slump, or I need a reading reset, I always reach for a short romance. Donna Alward is one of my favorite Harlequin authors, but I hadn’t read one of her non-HQN titles as of yet. When this appeared at Netgalley, I snapped it up. While I usually count on this author to deliver a convincing story with a cowboy hero, I was willing to accept a playboy prince. Livin’ the dream!

Rose is hired by the Navarros to be the new nanny for Max and Emilia, Prince Raoul’s young children, after a horrific accident took the lives of their mother and their previous nanny. Rose has worked for wealthy clients before, but working for the royal palace of Marazur is like a fairy tale come true. She’s surrounded by opulence, she quickly becomes fond of the children, and then there’s Prince Diego. Handsome, single, and concerned about the well-being of his niece and nephew, Diego pitches in to help the children heal from their traumatic loss. Even though Rose knows that she and Diego can never give in to their attraction, the temptation is overwhelming at times.

I liked all of the characters, even the kids. Rose has just enough quirks to make her interesting, as opposed to a twist on Mary Poppins. Diego is struggling to exert his independence and prove to his father and his older brother that he is reliable and worthy of their confidence so he can contribute to overseeing the prosperity of Marazur. Instead, they shut him out, leaving him to run the stables and turn his efforts to charitable work. I could understand his frustration with his place in the pecking order. Though he earned his reputation as a playboy, he had matured and was ready to pull his weight. His father, the king, and his brother, heir to the throne, continued to think he needed protecting and pushed him away.

Diego and Rose are immediately drawn to each other. They are both lonely. Even though Rose has a family, her nanny position have her far away from home, and her relationship with her younger sister is strained. Her brother is a pastor, and they often don’t see eye to eye, either. Diego has his problems being taken seriously by his family, so when Emilia and Max need him to offer some stability in their lives, he is determined to be there for them. Because Rose and Diego only want what’s best for the kids, they bond quickly over the shared goal of helping the kids deal with their grief.

The push and pull of their attraction was believable. Rose doesn’t want to jeopardize either her job or her reputation by having an affair with Diego. Worse, she doesn’t want to become gossip folder for the tabloids. Being thought of as a gold digger is a huge concern for her, and she doesn’t want any gossip to make it home where her family might hear it. Diego, who usually gets what he wants, has trouble understanding Rose’s reluctance to get involved. When they are featured in a speculative article, he agrees to keep things on the low down, which only makes things worse. Rose hates sneaking around, and she’s worried constantly about what the rest of the palace staff will think about her.

The Playboy Prince and the Nanny is a quick, satisfying read. It’s on the sweet side, with a tame heat factor. Think a mild green pepper as opposed to a spicier jalapeño. I liked that the emphasis was placed on Rose, Diego, and their developing relationship, as well as Max and Emilia learning to work through their grief over the loss of their mother. Throw in a third party intent on sabotaging Rose and Diego, and you have enough conflict to keep their HEA in question until almost the very end of the book.

I’m looking forward to Raoul’s book, and hope I don’t have to wait too long for his HEA.
Profile Image for Sheila Melo.
1,840 reviews46 followers
August 9, 2017
FINAL DECISION:  A sweet romance that harkens back to my days devouring category romances.  The story is pretty clean and focused on the couple. Sweet read that I enjoyed because of the characters.  This was a book I finished with a warm heart.

THE STORY:  Rose Walters comes to Marazur to take over being nanny for the two royal children whose mother just died.  While there, she ends up spending time with "the spare" Prince Diego.  Diego has been known as a playboy who flits around the world, but the family tragedy brings him back home and gives him a purpose to help his family including his brother and niece and nephew heal.  Of course, it also brings him in constant contact with the new nanny.  A woman he can't get off his mind.

OPINION:  I found this an enjoyable read. The characters and the story was uncomplicated and really focuses on these nice people navigating external events that threaten their potential relationship.

Years before I became obsessed with dark and angst filled dramatic romances, I read just about every Silhouette, Loveswept, Harlequin, Second Chance at Love, and numerous other category romances.  The stories were mostly simple and focused on the couple overcoming plot devices that threatened their relationship.  I read hundreds, maybe thousands, of those stories and was happy with those stories.

This book is a slightly more sophisticated version of those stories.  The characters are nice and the romance is sweet.  I enjoyed the connection between the characters and the fairy tale quality of the nanny falling for the prince.  (And the playboy prince falling head over heels for the slightly wallflower nanny!!) Rose and Diego are such nice people and the real complication is their relative positions (prince versus nanny) and some external threats that I don't want to give away.

While the story is definitely on the sweet side, I so much enjoyed the interaction between Diego and Rose which was romantic and gentle and warmed my heart.

I look forward to the companion book in this series about Diego's brother because this book left me with good feelings.

WORTH MENTIONING:  This is a pretty clean romance with some kisses and one act of premarital sex off screen.

CONNECTED BOOKS:  THE PLAYBOY PRINCE AND THE NANNY is the first book in the Princes of Marazur series.

STAR RATING:  I give this book 4 stars.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley in order to provide a review.  I was not required to write a review or write a positive review.  All opinions contained herein are my own.This review was originally posted on Top10RomanceBooks.com
Profile Image for Kathleen.
1,044 reviews
October 24, 2018
THE PLAYBOY PRINCE AND THE NANNY by Donna Alward is the perfect book for a summer escape. I was whisked away to a castle near the Mediterranean with Rosalie Walters (Rose) to be nanny for 6-year-old Emilia and 4-year-old Max. Their mother,
Princess Cecilia Navarro along with their nanny, was killed in a motor vehicle accident.

I have always been intrigued by castles and fantasized the interiors and was quickly immersed in this fairytale. I loved the rooms, the characters, the suspense and the romance. Like all fairytales, there are bumps and hurdles, if not witches or dragons, to be overcome.

##########SPOILER ALERT###########

Prince Raoul Navarro was so distraught by his wife's death, that he immersed himself in work and avoided his children. His younger brother, Diego, known as the Playboy Prince, adored his niece and nephew and played with them as often as possible. He also made certain that a highly qualified nanny was hired. He used an agency and didn't realize that she was lovely and beautiful and perfect in every way.

I love the beautiful cover on this book and enjoyed reading this light well written story and look forward to reading more by the talented Donna Alward. 5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, publicity assistant Justine Sha and author Donna Alward for providing me with a copy of this book to read. The thoughts written here are entirely my own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Heather.
1,408 reviews24 followers
July 22, 2017
This was an enjoyable romance between Diego, the so-called playboy prince and the royal nanny, Rosalie. Donna Alward managed to create a very interesting character in Diego. While the world and his family see him as a playboy, Diego is very conscious of his duties to his country and to his family. So when tragedy strikes the family, Diego steps in to take charge. However, he never expected to find love out of the tragedy.
Perfect afternoon romantic read!

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this novel.
Profile Image for Claire - The Coffeeholic Bookworm.
1,257 reviews111 followers
August 2, 2017
I was quite surprised when I learned something about royals that I don’t normally read or heard on the news. All I thought, if there’s a “party” prince in the midst, you’ll expect scandals and controversies abounding his surrounding him and his life alone. But we or I rather, do not see or know half the story behind it.

Oftentimes, we thought that the first born royals or the ones next in line to the throne are the ones responsible and polite and always in charge of everything that surrounds the royal family. We expected them to be accountable. And we always assumed the worst about the brother or sister of the heir. That they’re just happy-go-lucky, carefree, attention seekers. What we fail to notice is that it’s their way of diverting our attention away from the other family members.

Such is the case with Prince Diego Navarro. He’s got that infamous reputation of being an international playboy, partying night after night with different girls. When his sister-in-law died in a car accident, it was expected that his older brother, Prince Raoul to keep his family intact, his kids attended to and glued together despite everything. But the truth of the matter was, he was losing himself to the tragedy and it was no other than Prince Diego who took matters into his hand.

And that’s where Rosalie came along. A dispute with her other siblings led her foot to other houses, taking care of other families’s children. It wasn’t a big deal first when she landed the job at the Royal Castle to take care of Raoul’s kids, but all her thoughts and opinions about the royal family changed when she met the party prince.

Soon Rose realized, what you see wasn’t exactly what you get. There was more to Prince Diego than the eyes could see.

So far, it has been a great journey getting to know the princes of Marazur. One needs a strong and powerful heart when dealing with death, abandonment, responsibilities and criticisms. I am glad that the characters in this book are flawed but relentless, unconventional but dedicated. Prince Diego was a revelation, Rose was invaluable and those little children were precious. The romance was on point and adventurous, and definitely unforgettable. Donna Alward did a great job with this duology and I am looking forward to more beautiful books in the future!
Profile Image for Alison.
3,493 reviews137 followers
August 1, 2017
Rose Walters is an English nanny from Guildford in Surrey. She is hired to look after two royal children after their mother and nanny were killed in a road traffic accident. She has met one of the royal princes many years ago, although she doubts that he remembers her.

Prince Diego Navarro is the second son of the King of Marazur. Shielded by his father and older brother after his mother's untimely death he has become adept at playing the role of international playboy. However, he really wants to take more responsibility but neither his brother Raoul nor his father seem willing to give him any. After the death of his sister-in-law and the children's nanny, who was also his childhood nanny, he realises that his brother isn't stepping up to look after his children and so Diego hires a nanny to look after them.

Diego and Rose become close as the two of them try to help two distraught children through their grief, but they are keeping their fledgling relationship a secret from the King, something that worries Rose both professionally and personally.

I felt that there was a lot of back story, especially in relation to Rose's family, which didn't seem to go anywhere. I wasn't sure if her family had featured in other Donna Alward books or were going to become a feature in the next novel in this new series but it seemed kind of superfluous.

I have to confess, I am not a fan of contemporary royal romances so I hesitated A LOT before I accepted the invitation to review an ARC, but I have read several of Donna Alward's other books and enjoyed them so I thought I would put aside my prejudices and give this one a go. Whilst there was nothing at all wrong with this book, it didn't convert me and so the rating reflects my antipathy towards the whole genre rather than any issues with the novel itself. I'm sure if you like contemporary royals you will love this one.

So overall, a romance between an English nanny and a European prince, verging on the sweet and lots of mild angst about sneaking around behind the King's back.

I received a free copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Bumped for release.
3,245 reviews32 followers
July 17, 2017
You know you can never go wrong when you pick up a book by Ms Alward. This one was no exception. What was interesting to me is the fact that I don’t like books about royalty and surprising I really enjoyed this one. To the point that I can’t wait for the story of Prince Raoul.
This story centers around Prince Diego, a playboy that is the “spare” and takes the persona of someone without cares and is all about having a good time. Or so it seems. Deep down, he really wants to contribute by helping the kingdom prosper , but he has cast the die as being the playboy and is not taken seriously.
When tragedy occurs in the kingdom, English nanny Rose , is hired to help with the children of the crowned Prince and Diego, also returns home to help the family put the pieces back together.
There is a little bit of a fairytale, CInderella story between Diego and Rose but there is more than that.
In her usual manner, the author reminds us that family is in fact everything and that even though life can be messy, there is also hope and love.
I appreciated the fact that she shows us that royalty are just people like us, with challenges, tragedies and family issues. The difference is that they are under the microscope and frequently what you read has been distorted.
Looking forward to the next book of the series.
I was gifted this copy by Netgalley and the publisher. The opinions expressed are solely my own.
Profile Image for Jae Mod.
1,716 reviews220 followers
July 28, 2017
***ARC provided by author for an honest review ***

The Playboy Prince and the Nanny (Royal Duo log #1) by Donna Alward is one of those books in which you fall in love with right from the beginning.  A surprisingly simple and elegant spin on Cinderella with a side of heartbreak, healing and acceptance, the Prince and the help journey to trust and love.

Prince Diego is the prince who lives a typical playboy's life. While out of his home country living life disaster hits home when his sister-in-law and nanny are killed in a accident.  Diego finds himself back home and more lonely and lost than ever.  

Rose is so sweet and empathic who is not fazed by money or power.  She is not one to believe in fairytales, but when called upon by the Prince to be the new nanny to his brothers two children her views become hindered and her sights are set on Diego. No one is immune to the ray of light Rose brings back to the Royal Family after such a dark time for them.  While Rose and Diego join forces to help the children through their grief, a connection is made and bonds are being welded together. 

Rose gets her Cinderella moment for a night, but with all happily ever after's the night comes crashing to an end. Can the bond that her and the Prince created stay intact or will it dissolve?  You'll have to read it to find out! 

This was a sweet, charming royal romance that swooned me! A great novel to devour on a weekend! 

4 Amazing stars   
Profile Image for Cathy Geha.
4,088 reviews107 followers
July 30, 2017
The Playboy Prince and the Nanny by Donna Alward
Royal Duology #1

Sitting here with a smile on my face I remember reading books like this during the civil war in Lebanon – books that took me away to another world filled with romance. This book may be predictable but it is predictably perfect in a very lovely and loving way with characters I respected and wanted to meet and then get to know.

Rosalie “Rose” Walters is hired to be the nanny for 4 year old Max and six year old Emilia just after their mother and longtime nanny were killed in an automobile crash. Rose is the perfect person to provide them with the kindness, love and routine that they so need. She also brings a breath of fresh air into the lives of those in the castle mourning for the smiles and happiness that disappeared when Princess Cecilia’s died. Diego Navarro, playboy prince, is charmed by Rose and soon finds himself not only intrigued but falling in love with her…just as she begins to fall in love with him. With their stations unequal, their backgrounds different and the children and family needing both of them to be there for them it is not easy for them to find a way to a HEA ending – but – they do – and their story is all that a fairytale should be.

I loved this story and am eager to read Raoul’s story when it comes out. I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press – Swerve for the ARC. This is my honest review.

5 Stars
Profile Image for Leslie aka StoreyBook Reviews.
2,672 reviews181 followers
August 7, 2017
This was a light romance that touched my heart several times.

I read all sorts of books and every now and then I want to read something that lets me escape and I'm not trying to solve a murder (mysteries) or being roped in with a suspense novel. This book let me escape to a small country and gave me a peek into Royal life and that they are human just like you and me. Sadly Rose comes into the palace due to a tragedy - two children have lost their mother and nanny and Rose is hired to be the new nanny. She has a special connection with them and is able to help fill a void and also bring smiles and laughter back to the palace.

Interestingly enough, Diego is the one that hires Rose vs the children's father. And of course upon first meeting her he falls head over heels in love, he just doesn't recognize it at first.

Their relationship has ups and downs during that time but true love always wins.

I'm looking forward to reading the next book about the older brother but I have a feeling I know who he will end up with as a love interest!
Profile Image for Tim Covell.
Author 3 books6 followers
June 25, 2021
I put off reading this for a bit, because I was hesitant to read a boss/employee romance. Some of them have a rather creepy vibe. Had I bothered reading the blurb or reviews I would have learned sooner that's not quite the case here. Arguably the brother of the heroine's employer is still in a position of power over her, but the main characters are equally strong and independent.

Two things dominate the tone - the tragedy in the opening, which undercuts the wealth and power of the hero, and the contemporary small Mediterranean kingdom setting, which allows for contemporary attitudes and challenges in a light fantasy-historical setting and is a marvelous distancer.

I enjoyed this sweet romance, spiced with the need to keep it secret, and an unexpected complication near the end. This is the first story of a pair, with some obvious setup for what follows, but this little kingdom is an enjoyable place, so I expect to return for the adventures of the brother.
Profile Image for Treena.
1,343 reviews79 followers
July 20, 2017
I was given an ARC by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you!

I've never heard of this author before but requested an ARC because I like royal-themed romances. This one fit the bill perfectly! The romance between Diego and Rose is sweetly sexy. I loved that at the heart of it, this book was all about love and family.

I think this book is the perfect summer beach read. Can't wait for the next book!
Profile Image for Ann.
5,680 reviews72 followers
August 4, 2017
I like Donna Alward's writing style. She gives you a great romance that usually has some humor and a back story. This book has a royal prince losing his wife so his brother hires a nanny. You can anticipate that when Diego hires Rose for Raoul that one of the brothers will be falling in love with her. The children are precious and sweet and the story is also. This is book 1 in the Royal Duology so each brother has his own story.
Profile Image for romancejunkie.
390 reviews86 followers
September 26, 2019
Rose and Diego meet when she goes to the castle to be the nanny to his nephews and both are instantly enchanted, but she is afraid to pursue what they have because of the boundaries of her work. But each time they spend together was more hard to stay professional, and so they end up giving in and falling in love. A cute fairytale romance, the relationship between Rose and Diego was sweet and made me smile. Lovely story!!
Profile Image for Brenda Pearson.
Author 6 books18 followers
October 11, 2021
love at first sight

From the first chapter I was hooked. A prince and nanny. Can two people from two world find true love. A Prince Playboy is rushed home after a death of his sister-in-law to help in Royal duty. What he hadn’t expected is having a liking to the new nanny that will be taking care of his niece and nephew.
You will fall in love with this story. I must say this is my first read from Donna Alward and I really love it. Can’t wait to read the next one
Profile Image for Susan (susayq ~).
2,362 reviews132 followers
July 30, 2017
What a sweet romance with almost a fairy tale feel to it!

Watching Rose and Diego fall in love was great, but I have a feeling the next book will be amazing. Especially if Raoul ends up with who I think he will ;)

*thanks to the publisher for sharing a copy of this with me*
9,230 reviews124 followers
April 29, 2023
This is a well written, sweet romance with strong characters in Diego and Rosalie. It's an interesting story with the playboy prince and the nanny finding love. The story moves fluidly and is an enjoyable read.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book set. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.
Profile Image for Marianne.
6,480 reviews74 followers
April 12, 2023
This is a super cute royalty romance.. I liked it very much.. It is sweet and charming, with lovely characters..

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Valeen Robertson (Live Thru Books Blog).
5,593 reviews203 followers
August 25, 2017
The Playboy Prince and the Nanny was such a lovely surprise. I was expecting something boring, but this wasn't that at all. Rosalie is the new nanny for Prince Raoul Navarro, the Crown Prince of Marazur. His wife and nanny died in a horrible car accident, and the Prince is floundering. So his brother, Prince Diego, the "spare heir" has vetted the interviewees and they've picked Rose.



Rose comes into the position with a lot of trepidation. She's from a working class family and knows she will not fit into the royal world. And yet, she came highly recommended from her nanny agency, and she's worked with posh families her entire career, so she knows she'll be able to do a good job. And when she meets Max and Emilia, she knows for certain this is a job she's meant to have. But, it's Diego, the Playboy Prince, who will upset her calm, orderly world and make her fall in love.



I really enjoyed The Playboy Prince and the Nanny. Normally I don't like romances with fade to black love scenes, but here the emotions are so heightened and it's so well written that the lack of steam isn't noticeable or even missed. Rose and Diego are such wonderful, layered characters and they share such a special connection. Rose is just a regular girl, and she knows it, she's STAFF, the help, and Diego's the Prince, ROYALTY. "I'm staff, you're royalty, and never the twain shall meet." She's so aware of the disparity of their stations in life, and it makes her fight her feelings vehemently. But Diego, accustomed to having his way, absolutely bowls her over with his sweetness, his charm, and his love for Max and Emilia, the children she's fallen in love with, too. I was expecting the typical manwhore, arrogant royal prince, but Diego is far from that. On the contrary, he's sweet, and compassionate, and is trying his hardest to make his father and his brother to see him for the man he really is - a smart, hardworking man who loves his family.

The swoon factor is high here The Playboy Prince and the Nanny and I'm glad for it. Rose and Diego are such a great couple, with a strong connection. And then there are the adorable kids, Raoul and their father, Alexander, Stephani (Raoul's assistant), Señora Ortiz (the chef), so many excellent, entertaining characters, that The Playboy Prince and the Nanny didn't lack for a well rounded support crew. I'm really looking forward to Raoul's story next (The Crown Prince's Bride), he deserves a happy ending, that's for sure!

I received an ARC through NetGalley for an honest review.
Profile Image for Barb Lie.
1,993 reviews4 followers
August 1, 2017
The Playboy Prince and the Nanny by Donna Alward is the first book in her Royal Duology. Once again, Donna Alward gives us a wonderful sweet delightful romance. The Playboy Prince and the Nanny revolves around a Royal family, but this book was so much fun to read, as every single character was great, and I loved every moment of it.

Prince Diego Navarro is with his friends at a bar, living the life of a playboy prince, when he sees on the television the news of terrible tragedy in his homeland of Mazazur. His sister in law and the nanny were killed in the horrific car crash, and Diego heads home to help his brother, Raoul, the crown prince, as well as his niece and nephew through this trying time. Raoul has always performed along with his father, the King all the duties required of nobility, leaving Diego to live his fun wild life. But Diego is determined to step in and show his brother and father that he is more than capable of handling any duties required. It will be Diego who will hire a new nanny to help with the children.

Enter Rose Walters, the new nanny, who has come with excellent references with the rich and famous. Rose knows the rules, and is very good at her job. Rose was wonderful with her two charges, Emilia and Max, and in a short time they come to love her, as does she, and helps them learn to adapt to the loss of their mother. When Rose arrived, she was met by Diego, and though he was handsome, caring and totally different than his playboy image, she knew she needed to avoid him as much as possible. Her attraction to him was real, and soon Diego will find himself enjoying the friendship he had with Rose. Both of them find it hard to keep their distance, as Diego tried to spend time with the children and Rose.

Of course, with a Royal family, pictures are secretly taken and Rose find herself exactly where she did not want to be; on the cover of the papers. She was help, and he was a prince. There could be no future. Rose must decide if she should stay, or leave the precious children, who would get hurt again. However, the Navarro family does not let the media dictate their lives, and to her surprise, Raoul and his father are supportive, finding themselves caring about her, too. Diego is determined to show Rose how much he loves her and that she will be accepted into the Royal family. I loved Diego and Rose together, and I adored both Max and Emilia.

The ending was so well done, happily emotional and very satisfactory. If you enjoy a sweet well written romance, with so many likeable characters, you should read The Playboy Prince and the Nanny. If you have not read Donna Alward, and you enjoy romances, you should be reading her books.

Barb
The Reading Cafe
Profile Image for Margaret.
609 reviews14 followers
July 28, 2017
A solid summer read that lets you escape with royalty and gives a satisfying happy ever after! I’m not a huge fan of these contemporary royal romances, which played into my rating, but I was intrigued by the blurb and am glad I gave this one a shot.

Things aren’t always what they seem, and that even holds true behind the castle walls! Prince Diego has been labeled a playboy, always out making headlines and in the media spotlight. What the public doesn’t see is a man who will do anything for his family, even if it means keeping the spotlight turned on him as a diversion so the rest of his family can have some peace. When Rose is hired as the new nanny and gets to meet the real Diego, there’s not much either of them can do to stop the pull they feel towards one another.

Rose definitely has some issues that stem far beyond the ones she knows she will face if she decides to get involved with royalty. She was a little bit frustrating at times, but I totally got where she was coming from, I just wish she had spelled it all out for Diego so they could have worked together when it came to making their relationship public and minimized her back and forth on her desire to commit.

Diego was so much more than everyone gave him credit for. He loves his family deeply and would do anything for them, even stepping up to the plate to take charge when tragedy strikes the family and then after when scandal becomes a threat. And like Rose, he needed to get out of his own head and talk more about his feelings and how to address their relationship – these two definitely could have used some relationship counseling on communication!

I did like the other characters in the book. I loved the role the children played and seeing Rose interact with them and help them find their new normal after losing their mother and nanny. The rest of the family did grow on me throughout the book and there were some other characters on the staff who helped this one along.

As I already mentioned, I’m not a huge fan of these types of contemporary royal romances since the angst surrounding the social class tends to grate on me, but this was a solid read. I liked that the angst was kept to a minimum and that the entire royal family was one I could like. This book was well written and had a solid plot with some very well developed characters.

A definite must read for those who are fans of this trope or anyone looking for solid romance that has a solid happily ever after!

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book received from the publisher through NetGalley.
4,689 reviews16 followers
August 15, 2017
The Palace had come to a stop with the sudden death of Crown Prince Raoul wife Princess Cecilia and the long time nanny. Rose had worked hard to get the reputation of a highly thought of and wanted nanny. But Rose had never worked with royalty before. Rose has been hired to be the nanny now by Prince Diego and can bring stability, joy, and hope back into the kid's life that had also been in the car accident but were not seriously hurt physically anyway after losing their mother and nanny Prince Diego was he spare prince and is a fun loving playboy when his sister in law dies. Prince Diego finds out about his sister in law’s death he feels he must return to the palace immediately to step up and help his older brother and father. Also make sure his four year old nephew Max and his six year old niece Emilia have what they need and also be there for them and do what he could to help them. Rose likes her privacy especially after she starts to develop feelings for Diego Diego has a big heart and rose sees that and draws her to him. The family also treats Rose like family than the hired help. Diego was conscious of his duty to his country and his family no matter what his reputation was But deep down Diego did want to see the kingdom prosper. Diego wanted more responsibility but his father nor his brother would give it to him. Diego soon finds he is also developing feeling for Rose. Diego.s brother wasn’t really stepping up for the kids in his grief so Diego does so why Diego hires Rose. Rose and Diego are keeping their feelings a secret from the king. And that bothers Rose as it could hurt her professionally and personally. Then a picture is taken of Rose and Diego and Rose has to decide if to leave or stay. But if rose left the kids would be hurt again.
This was an excellent story. I loved the plot and the pace and everything about it. I am not sure why Diego wanted to keep his and Rose’s relationship from the king. I was glad the king didn’t care what the people thought and supported Diego and Rose. I loved how Diego wanted to do more and really cared about the kingdom. And wasn’t just another rich playboy royal . I also loved how Diego steps up for the kids. I loved Rose and Diego together. This was a fun read after got through the beginning and the tragic deaths. I loved the characters and the ins and outs of this book and I recommend. I wish I could rate this 4.5.
1,383 reviews21 followers
July 20, 2017
If you are looking for a solid summer romance to read while at the beach or on vacation, look no further. The Playboy Prince and the Nanny is just the book for you. Rose Walters is hired as nanny for the two children of Raoul, whose wife has been tragically killed in an auto accident. When Rose arrives, she encounters Raoul’s younger brother, the playboy prince, Diego, who regularly is in the papers with another new adventure or girl on his arm. Diego Is the “spare” to his brother, and has never been taken seriously or given much of a royal family job to do, while Raoul, along with his father, has been carrying the load for the royal family. Thus, Diego has become the playboy prince. Upon arrival, Rose, realizing just how traumatized young Max and Emilia have been by their mother’s death, begins to worm her way gently into their hearts and souls, as well as those of the entire household, effectively healing as she does. At the same time, both she and Diego recognize an attraction/chemistry between them. The story slowly weaves its way through the long days and nights, as this household, and especially Max, Emilia and Raoul, recover from this tragedy and begin to rebuild their lives, and as the Rose-Diego relationship grows. The story plot and line were predictable from the start. Still, this is a great romance between Rose and Diego, with Rose’s effect on the children, Raoul and the entire household thrown in to balance the tale. I enjoyed watching the interactions between Rose and Diego, Rose and the two children and between Rose and the household. As can be expected, the couple has some questions/doubts about the relationship between Rose and Diego, but I never felt their relationship was not going to happen. Still, it was interesting to see how they handled them and to watch it grow to fruition. It was also fascinating to watch the real Diego emerge from the playboy prince to loving, heartwarming man, uncle and prince. The two children added a note of whimsy and interest to this story, which would have been much less interesting without them. As I said, if you are looking for a short, sweet romance to read, this is a great choice. I have read most of the other books by Donna Alward, and this one did not disappoint. I received this from NetGalley to read and review.

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