by: Scarlett Clarke
Series: Royal Encounters
Genre: Contemporary Royal Romance
Release Date: June 25, 2024
Publisher: Harlequin Romance
What happens when an architect has to work with the far-too-tempting prince she shared one magical evening with in Paris? Find out in Scarlett Clarke’s debut for Harlequin Romance!
ONE STARLIT NIGHT IN PARIS…
Architect Maddie is still thinking about her steamy kiss with a stranger when she walks into her meeting the next morning… And finds her new client, Nicholai, is that stranger and a prince! No matter how incredible the attraction, he’s now completely off-limits. He’s her boss, a dutiful royal and she’s sworn off men. But when their inevitable second kiss is caught on camera, there’s only one solution to the impending scandal—faking their engagement!
From Harlequin Romance: Be swept away by glamorous and heartfelt love stories.
THE PRINCE SHE KISSED IN PARIS is my debut royal romance with Harlequin Romance. Kicking off the story in Paris was a no-brainer; it was my husband’s and my first international trip together. I fell in love with the old architecture, the iconic landmarks, and just the overall feel of the city.
It was a lot easier to write the chapters set in Paris than creating the country of Kelna, although I learned so much about world-building throughout this process! Kelna was inspired by the country of Croatia, a stunning setting that is now on my travel bucket list.
I also want to give a shout-out to my incredible sister-in-law Rachel, for helping bring Madeline and her passion for architecture to life. Rachel is an architect in the Pacific Northwest and has worked on everything from museums to embassies. She was a wonderful resource on how design processes, site visits, and construction work, and let me get away with some twisting of how an actual timeline would progress!
I hope you enjoy Madeline and Nicholai’s romance. Happy reading, and have a wonderful summer!
Love, Scarlett
She leaned over and picked up the sketch pad at her feet. Her fingers grabbed the bottom of her drawing and, before he could say anything, tugged. The penciled illustration of the Eiffel Tower tore free.
“Here.”
He stared at the drawing, then back at her.
“For me?”
“Yes.” Her eyes crinkled at the corners. “Something to remember Paris by when you go back home.”
“I can’t—”
“Yes, you can.” She pressed the drawing into his hands before flipping through the sketches in the book. Images of Sacré-Coeur’s elegant domes, vine-covered shops in Montmartre and the book-filled windows of Shakespeare and Company flew past. “I have plenty. I want you to have this. Please.”
The please did him in. He nodded, unable to express his gratitude with words for fear he’d say something else, like telling her he wanted to see her again.
Let her go.
She grabbed the empty wine bottle and walked past him, a heady, sweet scent lingering in her wake. Angry with himself and, for the first time in a long time, the role he was bound to, he followed.
She moved toward a door in the wall marked Escaliers, tossing the wine bottle into a refuse bin by the door. They both reached for the handle. Their hands brushed. Her sharp intake of breath pierced his armor. He looked down to see her face tilted up, eyes wide and lips parted, her blonde hair glowing in the moonlight. She watched him without guile, without assessment. She simply looked at him as a woman looked at a man she desired.
He couldn’t have stopped himself if he’d tried. He leaned down and kissed her.
“Here.”
He stared at the drawing, then back at her.
“For me?”
“Yes.” Her eyes crinkled at the corners. “Something to remember Paris by when you go back home.”
“I can’t—”
“Yes, you can.” She pressed the drawing into his hands before flipping through the sketches in the book. Images of Sacré-Coeur’s elegant domes, vine-covered shops in Montmartre and the book-filled windows of Shakespeare and Company flew past. “I have plenty. I want you to have this. Please.”
The please did him in. He nodded, unable to express his gratitude with words for fear he’d say something else, like telling her he wanted to see her again.
Let her go.
She grabbed the empty wine bottle and walked past him, a heady, sweet scent lingering in her wake. Angry with himself and, for the first time in a long time, the role he was bound to, he followed.
She moved toward a door in the wall marked Escaliers, tossing the wine bottle into a refuse bin by the door. They both reached for the handle. Their hands brushed. Her sharp intake of breath pierced his armor. He looked down to see her face tilted up, eyes wide and lips parted, her blonde hair glowing in the moonlight. She watched him without guile, without assessment. She simply looked at him as a woman looked at a man she desired.
He couldn’t have stopped himself if he’d tried. He leaned down and kissed her.
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The Royal Encounters Series:
Royally Forbidden to the Boss (Book 2) releases December 24, 2024
When she's not reading or writing, she's wrangling her two little ones while trying yet again to plant a vegetable garden, visiting her husband at the fire station, or sitting on her front porch savoring a cup of hot tea and the sight of the Midwestern countryside.
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Great excerpt and cover. Good work!
ReplyDeleteSounds like an interesting love story.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the excerpt for The Prince She Kissed in Paris. Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteI like the cover and excerpt. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDelete