The Accidental Heir

By Susan Stephens

USA Today bestselling author Susan Stephen's digital novella reveals just how hard it is to be a modern day princess in this passionate and powerful story that will stay in your minds, long after the last page!

The last of her clan, Princess Astrid steps up to claim her birth right as ruler of the Arctic lands of Hammersvik. But first she must complete the rigorous training her advisors insist upon.

Her unlikely tutor is Karl Thorberg, Prince of the neighbouring lands, intrepid explorer and reckless thrill–seeker. He insists pampered Astrid leave her palace and experience, first hand, the wild Arctic landscape she will rule.

As the freezing Artic wind rages round them, passions are heating up between Astrid and Karl. It's not long before Karl is tempted into some very un–princely behaviour! But during their one night of indiscretion, he inadvertently resolves another condition of her reign ? that she provides an heir!

Don't miss the other titles in this fantastic collection that celebrates Royal Babies all over the world!

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Australia
• Release date: Sep 1, 2013
• ISBN: 9781488739385

Susan Stephens

Susan Stephens is passionate about writing books set in fabulous locations where an outstanding man comes to grips with a cool, feisty woman. Susan’s hobbies include travel, reading, theatre, long walks, playing the piano, and she loves hearing from readers at her website. www.susanstephens.com

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

PRINCESS ASTRID OF Hammersvik backed into the palace cinema room balancing her phone, a stack of DVDs, a couple of magazines, a bulging make-up bag, a can of soda, a packet of gum and a giant-sized bag of sweets on top of the coffee-table books that had arrived in the post that morning.

‘Didn’t anyone think to put the light on in here?’ Muttering beneath her breath, she found the switch on the wall and through a series of elaborate manoeuvres managed to flip it on with the back of her head.

‘Turn that light out!’ a voice yelled out, startling her and nearly causing her to spill the precarious pile of items in her arms.

‘What the?’ Creeping forward, she took a closer look at the enormous slumbering form currently stretched out on one of the lavish leather daybeds arranged in front of the screen.

‘I don’t take orders,’ she informed the magnificent intruder. ‘I give them.’

Ha! The truth was the Royal Council had insisted she must instruct, demand, command and generally be what Astrid considered downright rude so people didn’t think she was weak. With so many unscrupulous pretenders to the throne only too eager to unseat her, it was imperative that she maintain a strong facade. She’d play along for now, but as soon as she had dealt with the troublemakers, she intended to win the respect of her people through fair treatment to all. She loved her country and would do everything she could to keep it safe.

But if she was going to test those royal wings on anyone...

‘Can’t you see I’m trying to sleep?’ a deep male voice grumbled as she defiantly turned on all the lights.

‘Who the hell are you?’ Astrid could take most things in her stride, even a man who looked like a Viking and who had just proved that he could swear like one too.

She lurched back as the giant sprang up. He towered over her. His shoulders blocked out the light. His impressive torso was clad in a workmanlike jumper in an indeterminate shade of green, and his bottom half was snugly ensconced in a pair of jeans that left little doubt that...

He had very big feet indeed.

In his favour, the well-packed jeans were clean, though extremely worn in certain places. This must be the tutor she had sent for. He was a little unconventional, but academics could be eccentric beasts.

Dragging her gaze up his muscled body, she took in the steel-grey eyes, currently narrowed in a merciless appraisal that made her wish she hadn’t scraped her hair back in an unflattering ponytail and had thought to put on her make-up before coming in to watch the film. The firm mouth was seriously unamused, but it was also seriously sexy, and when he angled his chin to grind his jaw in a fair approximation of a man on the brink of meltdown, she caught sight of the most excellent straight white teeth. His stubble was dense and sharp, and his hair was way too long, thick and wild, but she had always fancied a bit of rough. Gently bred princesses could turn out that way.

‘You must be Princess Astrid.’

‘How did you guess? May I?’ She eased

Reviews for The Accidental Heir

[scoutmomskf · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

My favorite book of the series. It all started when the Caroselli grandfather, Nonno, was afraid that his grandsons would never marry and have kids. So he decided to motivate them by offering millions to the first one to marry and provide an heir. In the first two books Rob and Nick made their runs for the prize, but end up choosing love over money (of course) after learning what is most important. In this book, Tony and Lucy had been together, sort of, for about a year when Lucy suddenly left with no explanation. She and Tony had had a friends with benefits thing going on but kept it private between the two of them. Tony is sad and misses her but never went after her because she had made it clear that there would never be anything more between them. He had never been much interested in relationships either until his grandfather's challenge. But Tony has plans for his future and that money would be useful, so he enters into a business arrangement with another woman, which is where this book starts.Lucy had left Chicago because she realized that she had fallen in love with Tony. Because of her horrible childhood she knew that she was not a suitable candidate for a wife and thought it would be better to leave. She knew she was pregnant and that he would insist on marriage and she didn't want to ruin his life. But when she receives a letter telling her of his upcoming marriage she knows she has to tell him of the baby before he marries. She didn't expect to show up just as the wedding began. Tony was actually relieved at Lucy's appearance. He had realized almost immediately that marrying that other woman was going to be a huge mistake, but he couldn't figure out how to get out of it. Lucy's arrival took care of the problem for him. He had missed her so much that all he wanted to do was hang on to her. She had been the only person that he ever felt he could talk to about what he really wanted out of his life. He couldn't believe that she was planning to leave again once she told him. I loved seeing him work to get her to agree to stay and let him take care of her. I found Tony to be absolutely adorable. He wasn't arrogant or conniving, in fact he was pretty darn clueless. He has a terrible habit of putting his foot in his mouth because he doesn't always think before he speaks. But his heart is definitely in the right place and it shows with everything he tries to do for Lucy. Tony also gets frustrated with his big Italian family because he feels like they are always interfering in his life. I loved seeing first his mother, then his grandfather, take Lucy to their hearts, especially because they and the rest of the family had hated that other woman. Tony was so afraid of driving Lucy away, because of their earlier friendship only pact, that he never told her how much his feelings for her had changed.Lucy was a young woman with terrible self-esteem issues. Her mother is a self-centered drug and alcohol addict that made Lucy's life miserable. Because of it, Lucy feels that she is nowhere near worthy enough to have any expectation of a life with Tony. She was so in love with him that she couldn't stand the idea of bringing trouble to him, which is why she left. But guilt brought her back so that she could tell him about the baby. She couldn't believe he wasn't angry with her. Those same guilty feelings made her agree to stay in Chicago so he could look after her, but she still cared too much about him to say yes to marrying him. He had made it clear before that he didn't do relationships and she didn't want to be an obligation. I loved Tony's family. Lucy was so sure that they would all hate her that she was completely surprised when his mom showed up that first morning and was so nice to her. It was really great to see Sarah tell her about her own experiences as a newlywed. I also liked the way that she fussed at Tony about his own actions. I also adored Nonno and how sweet he was to Lucy. There were some really fun moments during family get togethers.The conclusion of the story was wonderful. There had been some drama when Lucy found out about the money, but it was pretty quickly resolved. I loved the way that Tony resolved Lucy's fears. There were also a couple of very interesting twists to the end that had me grinning.