Alessio is jilted at the altar by his princess bride and he needs a replacement in a hurry.

Rosy’s family hotel is badly in debt. When Alessio offers to pay off that debt, Rosy agrees even though she feels that she can never aspire to the regal heights of his previous bride. When that lady has a change of heart during their honeymoon, who will Alessio go with? The royal or the commoner? And will it be possible for Rosy to meet the demands of a queen’s role as Alessio can only be crowned once he is married.

UPDATE (Jan 2025): Alessio and Rosy’s story will be called the “His Royal Replacement Bride“.

Excerpts From the Book

He couldn’t take his eyes off her.

Alessio watched his bride and he couldn’t take his eyes off her.

‘Madonna mia, she’s tiny!’ his best friend and legal counsel, Eduardo Conti, hissed. ‘And beautiful. You’re doing better than you deserve with this one.’

Rosy was doing so well, Alessio decided. He knew she was extremely nervous because he could see the tension etched into the delicate lines of her face, but she wasn’t showing it otherwise, walking erect and dignified with her head high, the tiara lodged in her magnificent fiery fall of hair. She had worn it down for him. Although he had not asked specifically, only hinting to the stylist, he was pleased.

He could forget that idea!

Give it a go?

He could forget that idea! Her teeth gritted as she stripped off her swimsuit and wrung the sea water out of it.

It was cool in the shade of the cave. She shivered as she dried herself and wriggled back into her shorts and her halter top, wishing she had thought to pack under garments. Her toe nudged something slimy and she fell back with a stifled shriek, looking down to see that she had got her foot entangled with a strand of seaweed. Rolling her eyes at her own foolishness, she kicked it away.

‘Rosy? I heard you cry out. Are you all right?’ Alessio called urgently from out of view.

‘A stupid piece of seaweed gave me a fright. I’m fine,’ she said thinly.

‘But very angry with me,’ Alessio commented, stepping into her line of sight and lounging back against the rocky outcrop that guarded the cave’s entrance from sight. ‘You don’t hide it well.’

‘So sorry about that. Does your security team have binoculars on us? I will try to do better in the future,’ she said stiltedly, dark blue eyes flaring like flames. ‘But maybe you could try not making me angry the next time.’

‘Charge her and put her in a cell.’

‘I can’t believe you’re speaking to me like this, treating me like I’m just anybody!’ Graziana screeched in outrage. ‘I’m royal. I’m a princess.’

‘You have to act like a princess to get the royal treatment,’ Rosy surprised herself by slicing into that flood of self-justification, temper stirring now in the aftermath of the shock of the other woman’s behaviour.

Graziana had been responsible for that dreadful article on that website. Only hanging, drawing and quartering as a punishment would have lessened Rosy’s anger.

‘Charge her and put her in a cell,’ Alessio advised the policeman, weary of the exchange.

Graziana gave him a wounded look, tears shimmering in her bright blue eyes. ‘Alessio, please…