Review for Sara Bennett's SECOND CHANCE PRINCE

 

SECOND CHANCE PRINCE
Historical Romance

 

AUTHOR:
Sara Bennett

RELEASE DATE:
May 19, 2026

PUBLISHER:
Forever

ISBN/ ASIN NUMBER :
9781538723852

RATING:
4.5

AUTHOR LINK:
https://sara-bennett.com/

 

 

Prince Nikolai (Niki) of Holtswig visits his aunt in London until the unrest in his country calms down. He has never forgotten his time with the Ashton family, especially one young woman. When someone tries to assassinate him, Niki allows the British government to protect him. He needs to pretend to be engaged to an Englishwoman. Niki will have none other than Roberta Ashton to pose as his fake fiancé. Will Niki learn the identity of the one behind the assassination attempts? And will his and Roberta’s sham engagement become real?

Roberta Ashton’s family is no stranger to scandal. She has learned to subdue her wild nature while amongst her peers. Roberta fondly remembers her infatuation with Nikolai during his last stay in England. When someone tries to kill him in her presence, she agrees to a fake engagement to protect him. Roberta knows she is the wrong woman for Niki, but she cannot help but to want to be his real fiancé. Will their ruse have the desired effect? Can Roberta let Niki go once he is free from the danger?

This book really changed my original opinions on Nikolai. His arrogant and pompous demeanor is all a front, one that has been hammered into him since childhood. It has also become a defense mechanism for him; one Niki uses to hide his awkwardness and shyness. What I like the most about Nikolai is how he secretly admired Roberta’s true nature. He hated seeing her dampen it down.

Roberta has really come a long way. I half expected her to continually thumb her nose at her peers and their expectations. Instead, Roberta learned to play their game while not forgoing her true nature. She just knows when to let it free and when to reign it in. What I adore the most about Roberta is how she truly saw Niki. She saw the socially awkward man beneath the cold, pompous demeanor. Roberta also picked up clues when Niki became nervous or agitated over something.

SECOND CHANCE PRINCE is the third book in Sara Bennett’s historical romance series, ROMANCING THE DUKES. It is better to start the series from the start. DREAMING OF A DUKE LIKE YOU, book one, introduces the Ashton family and the scandal that surrounds them. In book two, MY SECRET DUKE, shows how Roberta and Nikolai first met. I do remember secretly hoping they would end up together. Glad the author made it happen! Gabriel and Vivienne and Olivia and Ivo do make appearances throughout the story.

I did have one small nitpick. Freddie and his happily-ever-after. I remember, going into this book, wondering if the author intends to introduce his destined partner. Sara Bennett does. Unfortunately, it is a background romance like Justina and Charles and Annette and Harold. It felt like a major let down. And I am not wild about his choice. I still cannot pinpoint what about her that disagrees with me so.

I wonder if Antonia will be the next Ashton to receive a book. The other two Ashton sisters are too young. I have a suspicion… And I hope Niki’s younger brother gets a book, but I suspect HIS story will be a background romance too.