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“You don’t know who I am,” I whispered. He didn’t move—either away from me, or closer—and after an interminable moment, I stepped back and hurried out of the house.
He didn’t follow me as I fled into the night.
Lylin was not used to being alone—much less alone, hurt, and lost. So when she is separated from her guard and forced to abandon her horse, she counts herself lucky to stumble upon a manor house. Still frightened by those who chased her into the night, she keeps her identity a secret, calling herself Lily as she accepts the help of kind servants, and the compassion of Lord Fallon. When they fall into an easy friendship, she wonders if her secrecy was too hasty. However, as she gets to know the manor and its residents, Lylin discovers that she’s not the only one hiding secrets, and it may be a very good thing that her host doesn’t know her true identity as a member of the royal family.
I have not read the first book in this series, Just Ella, but have heard that it's a great read. In Missing Lily, Princess Lylin is the youngest of seven princesses. She gets separated from her guard during a storm and, while being chased, finds a house and makes her way to the stables. She is discovered by Rhys Fallon and tells him her name is Lily. He doesn't get out and socialize much so he doesn't know who she really is. She's able to spend a few days there and enjoys being Lily. She feels an attraction toward Rhys but then finds out he's betrothed to someone else. She leaves at her first opportunity (without saying goodbye) and when she seems him again, the situation is complicated and devastating.
Lylin is likable. She's kind, sweet and loyal. She learns that she's going to be the next queen and she's definitely not ready now but seems like she will grow into that role as time goes on. She's also willing to take over which is something none of her older sisters would do. Rhys is handsome and also kind and loyal. He's in a tough situation and I think he was in shock when he met Lily as Princess Lylin, so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt in how he handled things. He's willing to keep the agreement his parents made, even if it he's personally miserable. There were some great scenes with Rhys and Lylin that took me through a range of emotions: frustration, sadness, laughter, happiness, and satisfaction.
We also meet Lylin's sister, Princess Lorraina and Rhys's brother, Tobias. Princess Lorraina is a brat and there's not much to like about her. She's critical of her older sisters' decisions yet she isn't willing to step up and take over as queen or be with someone she loves. She has a hard time taking others' feelings into account in the decisions she makes. She makes some changes towards the end, but if the next book is about her, I will pass on it. Tobias is Rhys's brother and he's also not likable. He's selfish and violent. However, after learning more about him, I found him to be more sympathetic and didn't necessarily think what happened to him was justified.
This book does stand on its own and I didn't feel lost because I hadn't read Just Ella. Ella does appear in this book quite a bit so if you want to learn her story first, then read Just Ella before you read Missing Lily. I will read it at some point in time, and knowing who she ends up with won't ruin her story for me. This is a good book that has some twists and turns and if you enjoy princess stories, this is a series you'll want to read! It's also 100% clean!
My Rating=4 Stars
*I received a copy from the tour host for review. My opinion is 100% my own.*
Excerpt:
I found a cloak in the wardrobe and put it on, then quietly unlatched the door, hoping to leave without anyone’s notice.
Rhys sat on the floor, leaning against the wall opposite my door, sleeping. It broke my heart to see him there, obviously waiting for me to come out. But with any luck, he wouldn’t discover my departure until later. I slipped through the door and crept past him, trying to keep my breath quiet even with my nerves jumping every which way. I reached the top of the stairs before his voice stopped me.
“Where are you going?”
I looked back. His head still rested against the wall, but his eyes were fixed on me.
I faced the stairs again, contemplating running down them. I cleared my throat. “I’m just going for a walk outside to clear my head.” My foot stepped down.
“The sun is down.” Confusion infused his voice as he stood to follow.
My pace increased. “I won’t be gone long.”
He grabbed my arm, stopping me. “What has you so upset?”
I tried to hold his gaze He hated me, even if he didn’t know it. “I’m just…worried.”
“That’s not it.” How could he know such a thing? “There’s something else.”
I tried to invent a lie, but my thoughts wouldn’t cooperate. He moved closer to me, making my neck grow hot. I swallowed, desperately searching for something to say, or even something to focus on besides the warmth spreading through me. I ignored it. I didn’t know this man, he may very well be a traitor, a conspirator. But all I could feel was his proximity.
“Won’t you tell me?” he pled. I made myself look at him and his eyes delved into mine, searching for any clue to explain my behavior.
I closed my eyes, whispering, “I can’t.”
“Please?”
I opened my eyes at his pleading tone, then opened my mouth, trying to say something. His eyes locked on my parted lips and I stopped trying to talk. He lowered his head, glancing at my eyes before refocusing on my mouth and moving closer. He was going to kiss me. Half of me wanted it, desperately. The other half was terrified. It was all wrong. This was wrong. He was wrong.
I turned my face away and he froze.
“You don’t know who I am,” I whispered. He didn’t move—either away from me, or closer—and after an interminable moment, I stepped back and hurried out of the house.
He didn’t follow me as I fled into the night.
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I was born in Utah, part of a crazy, fun family of nine. I grew up in Flagstaff, AZ and St. Louis, MO before striking out on my own college adventure in Virginia. I decided to try my hand at writing novels after I was married and living in Idaho. I write clean romance because it’s my favorite genre, but often difficult to find.
I have Charlotte Brontë to thank for the courage to write novels. After being bombarded with assigned reading about women who justified abandoning either their families or their principles in the name of love, I had the great fortune of reading Jane Eyre. And that was it: finally, a heroine who understood that being moral and making the right choice was hard, and sometimes it hurt, but it was still worth it. After rereading it several years later, I realized that if I wanted more books to exist with the kinds of heroines I admired, then I might as well write a few myself. My books are about women who face hard choices, who face pain and rejection and often have to face the reality of sacrificing what they want for what is right. The consequences are often difficult or unpleasant, but in the end, doing what’s right will always be worth it.
I believe there is no substitute for good writing or good chocolate. Fortunately, one often leads to the other.
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1 comments:
I am glad you liked it. I haven't read the first one yet either. I want to read them. I love the covers :)
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