Royal
A Novel
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4.2 • 913 Ratings
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- $8.99
Publisher Description
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • In this spellbinding tale from Danielle Steel, a princess is sent away to safety during World War II, where she falls in love, and is lost forever.
As the war rages on in the summer of 1943, causing massive destruction and widespread fear, the King and Queen choose to quietly send their youngest daughter, Princess Charlotte, to live with a trusted noble family in the country. Despite her fiery, headstrong nature, the princess’s fragile health poses far too great a risk for her to remain in war-torn London.
Third in line for the throne, seventeen year-old Charlotte reluctantly uses an alias upon her arrival in Yorkshire, her two guardians the only keepers of her true identity. In time, she settles comfortably into a life out of the spotlight, befriending a young evacuee and training with her cherished horse. But no one predicts that in the coming months she will fall deeply in love with her protectors’ son.
She longs for a normal life. Far from her parents, a tragic turn of events leaves an infant orphaned. Alone in the world, that child will be raised in the most humble circumstances by a modest stable manager and his wife. No one, not even she, knows of her lineage. But when a stack of hidden letters comes to light, a secret kept for nearly two decades finally surfaces, and a long lost princess emerges.
A fascinating story of family and royalty, and an unforgettable portrait of an extraordinary young woman and the man who brings her home, Royal is an exhilarating work from America’s most beloved storyteller.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
With the emotional panache that pleases her devotees, Steel (Kaleidoscope) portrays Zoya Ossupov, a courageous young woman of Imperial Russia who experiences both ecstasy and trauma. Daughter of a count who is a cousin of Tsar Nicholas, Zoya enjoys a privileged, cloistered existence. Zoya, whose name means "life,'' is on intimate terms with the tsar's family. All of them, of course, are endangered by the Revolution. The insurgents slaughter the tsar and his kin, and cause the deaths of Zoya's parents and brother, forcing her to flee to Paris with her aged but indomitable grandmother. Suffering in unaccustomed poverty, they are sustained by Zoya's wages as a dancer with the Ballet Russe. Romance brightens her life following a chance encounter with an affluent New Yorker, Capt. Clayton Andrews. Enchanted by Zoya, Andrews eventually brings her to Manhattan as his bride, never imagining the tragedies that will befall them both. Steel evokes the final days of Imperial Russia with characteristic bravura. As always, she offers a carefully calculated mix of picturesque locales, remarkable events and appealing characters. Literary Guild and BOMC dual main selections.
Customer Reviews
Breathtaking 5+ stars!
Royal, by Danielle Steel, is an endearing story about the love and strength shared between soulmates and the unshakable bonds of family. This easy to read book captivated my interest from the very beginning and was impossible to put down. Danielle Steel has really shown her writing perfection in this story about love, loss, heartache, joy, and what it really means to be a hero. This beautifully written story is a testament to the pursuit of finding true happiness and the power of following your dreams. Royal is a much needed feel good book for people all over the world!
With a beginning backdrop of countries at war, the King and Queen make the hardest decision they’ve ever had to make. They send their youngest daughter to live with another trusted family in a safer area that has not been ravaged by the onslaught of terror and war. Presuming she will be safer there, they agree to keep the young princess Charlotte’s whereabouts and identity secret. Although she desperately misses her mother, father, and two sisters, she finds comfort in riding her horse and spending time in the stables. She has always been able to relate to horses more easily than people. Henry, the son of the family Charlotte is staying with, is eagerly awaiting his eighteenth birthday so that he can serve his country. When Charlotte shows up a few months before he turns eighteen, he is immediately enthralled with everything about her. Their fast friendship soon turns into love, but it isn’t long before tragedy hits. Lucy, another girl who was living with the family, resented Charlotte from the moment she arrived because she has secretly been in love with Henry for years. When the unthinkable happens, Lucy makes a decision that changes all of their lives and vows to live the lie for the rest of her life. Not all secrets can stay hidden though, and when the truths are finally revealed, there is no way to guess what the outcomes will be.
Royal, by Danielle Steel, is one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. It is guaranteed to touch your heart and life your spirit. I am tremendously grateful for Danielle Steel, Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine, Delacorte Press, and Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. It is a must read that I highly recommend! My feedback is voluntary and expresses my honest opinions.
Perfect
I absolutely loved it
Absolutely wonderful.
I couldn’t put this book down.