The Kingdom of Niroli - Present Day

Carrie Evans knew it would be difficult to tell her former boss that she is carrying his child, but learning he has left London and returned to his homeland of Niroli only makes it harder. It is no secret that Nico Fierezza is the grandson of Niroli’s king, but when Carrie realizes that he actually lives in the palace, it puts things in a different light. Though she loves Nico, Carrie’s only hope is that he’ll acknowledge their child and provide for the baby’s future. But nothing in Niroli is what she expects, and Carrie is faced not only with a disbelieving Nico, but the princess chosen to be his bride.

Nico may think of Carrie as a mouse, but she’s determined to show him that there’s much more to her than the quiet, almost biddable woman who used to work for him. It’s obvious that the passion is strong between them, but with the beautiful and sophisticated Princess Anastasia waiting in the wings, Carrie doesn’t believe that Nico will ever see Carrie as anything more than a convenience. Even worse, he doesn’t think that her child has anything to do with him. Will she be able to convince him otherwise?

While it may be helpful to have read the earlier stories in the series to have a better sense of what is happening in the royal house, EXPECTING HIS ROYAL BABY stands well enough on its own. Nico’s ninety-year-old grandfather is hoping to secure the succession, but so far, each of his heirs has managed to evade the duty. Though this thread that connects the different novels in the series is mentioned, the focus of the story remains on Carrie and Nico.

Carrie’s love for Nico is evident, as is her determination to bring up her child as she herself wasn’t raised -- with love. Her deepest wish is that Nico could love her, but she doesn’t really expect too much from him -- and is surprised when that is what she gets. And, while Nico has his reasons for not believing Carrie, and for his harsh treatment of her, he’s not the most admirable of heroes. Though the story would have benefited from getting to know more about the characters, EXPECTING HIS ROYAL BABY is an interesting tale.

Jennifer Bishop