Fairy tales do come true—and so do tabloid scandals! Bestselling author Marquita Valentine kicks off a juicy contemporary romance series with a novel about a prince whose best-laid plans go deliciously awry when he marries the maid next door.

Forced to flee to the United States with his siblings after their parents’ assassination, Crown Prince Colin Sinclair takes it upon himself to become the caretaker of his family while hiding out near Charlotte, North Carolina. But after a decade in hiding, the secret’s out and Parliament demands that Colin wed a princess of their choosing. Unwilling to play their game, Colin decides to marry an American instead, and he has the perfect candidate in mind.

As a home-service professional, Della Hughes doesn’t believe in storybook endings. But when her best friend and secret crush reveals that he’s a flesh-and-blood prince, she doesn’t know what to think. Still, she’ll do anything for Colin, including becoming his wife—in name only, of course. But when their plans to stay purely platonic go by the wayside, their fake honeymoon turns all too real. After a week of white-hot nights, Della can no longer deny her feelings—not with a happily ever after so tantalizingly close.

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While my inner little girl still dreams about princesses and princes, my adult self gravitates towards drama – especially when that drama involves scandals and royals behaving badly. I am pleased to report this was everything and nothing I expected simultaneously and I rather enjoyed it all.

I adored Della and Colin. Della was a tell-it-like-it-is spitfire. Her wit and charisma were entertaining while her backstory kept her humble. Colin was a charming and complex man. He did not let the secrets he carried deter him from his sense of obligation to family and country. Colin was a little rough around the edges but it was easy to see how Della would fall victim to his charm.

While the decade long friendship of the two would provide a means to resolve a political quandary, neither fathomed the depth of their connection. “In name only” was suddenly a burden with benefits that neither was properly equipped to handle. Lines were crossed, emotions ran deep, and hearts were on fire.

This was quite the entertaining read and I thoroughly enjoyed the characters. While this is book 1 of a series, it could be read as a standalone. I, however, am anxiously awaiting the next installment, Royal Affair, slated to release March 2017.

Overall Rating: 4 Stars

*I was provided a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

ALPOwl Series

Royal Affair (Royals in Exile #2) Add to Goodreads

Royal Chase (Royals in Exile #3) Add to Goodreads

Royal Duty (Royals in Exile #4) Add to Goodreads

Marquita Valentine is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author of the Holland Springs and Boys of the South series.

Since first taking the plunge in July of 2012 to self publish, Marquita Valentine has appeared on the Top 100 Bestselling Ebooks Lists on iBooks, Amazon Kindle, and Barnes&Noble. She’s been called “one of the best new voices in romance” (Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews) and her books have been accused of being “a sexy, fun, and slightly addicting contemporary read” (The Book Queen).

When she’s not writing sexy heroes who adore their sassy heroines, she enjoys shopping, reading, and spending time with her family and friends. Married to her high school sweetheart, Marquita lives in a seriously small town in the south with her husband, two kids, and a dog.