read 2022

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.

Most parents sought to protect their children during the bombing of England by German Luftwaffe under the administration of Prime Minister Winston Churchill. In June 1943, King Frederick and Queen Anne seek protection for their three daughters: Alexandra, Victoria and Charlotte. They have fashioned an air raid shelter in former housekeeping quarters but feel that their youngest Charlotte would benefit from being at the countryside due to her severe asthma. Princess Alexandra is 20 years old and being prepared for her duties to assume the throne. Princess Victoria is 19 years old and goes to work at the hospital to help the nurses. Princess Charlotte who is 17 years old is sent to the countryside due to her fragile health.

Charlotte assumes the identity of Charlotte White to protect her royal identity. She senses resentment from Lucy the other girl who is also boarding there as the caretakers son becomes interested in Charlotte. Against their better judgment Charlotte and Henry fall in love and are naïve to the future of the war. Little do they realize the lasting effects of their decisions. Secrets and jealousy have a way of causing tragedies which stand to threaten the future reputation and safety of the royal throne if discovered by the wrong person. Are there any honest and morally responsible people who are willing to sacrifice their safety and happiness to do the "right" thing?
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Teresa Calvet

Royal by Danielle Steel
1934 and Charlotte the youngest of the princesses is being sent, with her horse to stay with an older couple in the country.
That will keep her safe from the war bombings and due to her asthma. The couple have a boy her age, who plans to enlist in the army soon, and another lady stays with them as well to help them with chores.
The older princesses are able to do things useful for the country.
Her name will be different also and she is so sad to be leaving. She falls in love and they get married and have the baby while he serves the country.
Unimagineable things occur and Lucy, the orphan who helps out the couple ends up with the baby and she knows who the parents were from letters Charlotte had kept.
Everybody dies and she takes the baby and makes a new life for herself in a new location. She falls in love and they marry and she has twins-her first REAL birth and she needs to keep the secret about the first babys identity to herself.
At some point they could be sitting on the throne ruling over the country...she has plans to get money out of them to live in high style.
Love parts where the royals look over the box of letters and other information and gather her into the folds of their family. She takes a job at the stables, her favorite spot to be and is able to become a jockey, her life dream.
She had to give up her boyfriend though, it was either the jockey position or him.
Sad book at times but you can also see just how strong she really is.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device). ( )

I read this book and then listened to it on CD. I loved the story of a young innocent girl who had no idea she was royalty but didn’t let it go to her head. ( )