Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: The Harvest Homecoming
SERIES: Laurel Holidays
AUTHOR: V.L. Locey
PUBLISHER: Perky Rooster Books
LENGTH: 107 pages
RELEASE DATE: August 27, 2026
BLURB:
As the country of Östermon braces for a season of celebrations, an old spark threatens to reignite behind palace walls.
Prince Harold Valdemar has always been many things: charming, reckless, irresistible. The tabloids still remember his carefree years a little too fondly, even if Harold himself would rather forget them. These days, he’s trying—truly trying—to be the man the crown demands. Mostly. What he doesn’t expect is for the one person who once saw straight through him to return to his life.
Rani Adhikari is not the same man he was years ago. Serious, composed, and fiercely professional, he’s back at the palace on a temporary assignment with one goal: to do his job and avoid the prince who once broke his heart. Harold was never meant to be more than a beautiful mistake. But late nights, half-done conversations, and the unmistakable pull of unfinished business make it impossible to pretend their past never happened.
With a demanding royal schedule, a palace humming with gossip, and a monarchy that remembers Harold’s reputation all too well, both men must confront who they were—and who they’re willing to become—if they want a future that’s more than just another regret.
The Harvest Homecoming is a contemporary, second-chance, queer royal romance featuring a former playboy prince trying to grow up, a no-nonsense staff member with a long memory, new beginnings sharpened by time and distance, lingering chemistry that refuses to fade, quiet moments stolen from duty, and a hopeful, hard-earned happily ever after.
REVIEW:
Note: I absolutely loved the previous book in this series that starring another Prince of Östermon. This story does contain spoilers for that story and it’s recommended by the author to read that one first. Full disclosure, it was one of my absolute favorite holidays stories last year and I highly recommend it 🙂
Prince Harold has a reputation. A well-deserved reputation as a bit of a playboy Prince. He doesn’t really regret his past with one big exception. And that exception is Rani Adhikari. When Rani confessed his feelings for Harold, Harold ran and then ghosted him. Now Rani is back with a new assignment at the royal palace. There is a major festival coming up – the fall festival that will also be a birthday celebration for the King and Harold who happens to share his father’s birthday. Oh the joy. It’s clear that Rani wants to avoid Harold at all costs. After all, Harold made his feelings quite clear when he cut Rani off. But now, after a lot of time has passed, Harold finally realizes why he ran off. He was in love with Rani but he wasn’t ready or able to deal with those feelings. His fear made him run 🙁
With the festival nearing and the palace wanting this to be a big success, Rani and Harold are thrust together to make it happen. Harold owes it to both his family and Rani to make good and show everyone that he is more than an unreliable gad about. His brothers and his parents seems skeptical at first. They there is the issue of Harold’s sexuality that has been an issue in the past with his family. Mostly though Harold has to work to convince Rani that he’s changed and that he realizes that he now knows what he wants. And that’s Rani. If he can convince Rani to give him a second chance, well that would be the greatest gift 🙂
I really loved the Winter Mittens book where we met Harold’s brother Anders. In this story, Harold finally gets to have his own happily ever after. It was so fun to see the couple from the last book (and Gilda and Della 😉 ) but we also get to see the other brothers and their families. The queen is also a key character in this latest book and she was wonderful. Harold and Rani find their way together to a future that both are happy with. The epilogue was also delightful. This novella if full of heart, humor and heat as expected from this author and this series. Highly recommended for a wonderful quick read with a well-earned HEA 🙂
RATING: 
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