Cara's Twelve by Chantel Seabrook

Wow, what a story!

This was one of those books that I couldn't put down. It kept me up late into the night until I finished. And then, once I was done, I missed it. I wanted there to be more.

Cara is nothing. She is the niece of the queen of Elbia but that doesn't mean anything when she lives in a province that struggled to feed it's people. She hates the queen because it is her taxes that has driven a place that Cara loves into poverty.

Then the unthinkable happens. Cara's cousin becomes sick and Cara is selected by the council to be her aunts heir. She has to leave everything she knows and everyone she loves behind. Things at the palace are even worse than she expected and very few people can be trusted. Cara must embark on a journey around the provinces with the twelve men who have been chosen as her protectors and prospective lovers while the country is on the brink of war.

Some of these men will do whatever they must to protect her, while others plot and scheme. It's a dangerous dance Cara has found herself in the middle of.

First, let's start with our main character. Cara is fascinating. Her evolution from poor country girl to a royal is slow and believable. That's what I appreciated most about this book. She didn't just get named heir and suddenly become regal. It took time. She learned from the men serving as her protectors. Through their love and their courage, they taught her what it was to rule justly.

The loves stories is this book had my heart breaking. It is completely believable and doesn't feel skeezy that Cara is in love with more than one person. I'd be in love with those men too. I was rooting for one of them over the other, thought. The ending didn't turn out like I had been hoping but I still couldn't find it to be anything other than perfect.

The book reads like a YA which I loved but the content is more mature. By YA, I mean the story didn't get bogged down in unnecessary details and descriptions like similar books. The writing flows easily and smoothly. I appreciate being able to use my imagination rather than being told everything.

Basically, if you're looking for a book to read, this one won't disappoint!