★ 10/26/2020
Cole (A Princess on Paper ) launches the Runaway Royals series with this thoroughly modern firecracker of a romance about a “trial marriage” between near opposites. No one expects a love match to grow from the hasty pairing between King Sanyu II of the fictional African kingdom of Njaza—who was raised to rule but struggles with debilitating anxiety and doubts his own fitness for the crown—and Shanti Mohapti, an ambitious former farm girl who believes she was born to be a queen. Though Shanti’s confidence and political savvy are just what Sanyu needs, Sanyu’s upbringing in a deeply sexist society hasn’t prepared him to value an educated, outspoken woman, much less to know how to woo her. Sanyu longs for love but is afraid to go after it, and Shanti’s more wedded to her political agenda than to their relationship. Luckily, Cole provides a brilliant cast of secondary characters to prod them toward each other while enhancing the plot with humor and wisdom. Genre traditionalists may balk at the abundant attention to politics and slow emotional burn, but the vivid prose, lively characters, and steamy encounters will keep readers hooked, and the intersections between politics, gender, and ideology will resonate the world over. This strikingly feminist saga raises the bar for contemporary romance. Agent: Lucienne Diver, the Knight Agency. (Dec.)
Cole’s romances are always smart, sexy, captivating reads...” — Entertainment Weekly
"Cole’s majestic new Runaway Royals series spins off from her excellent Reluctant Royals trilogy, adding more dazzling depth... Cole’s contemporary romances shine with unique settings and complex characters. Fans will eagerly await her next royal match." — Booklist (starred review)
“Cole launches the Runaway Royals series with a bang, introducing a sexy but shy king, a determined and caring queen, and a host of characters who leap off the page into the reader’s imagination. Fans of the Reluctant Royals series will adore cameos by some of their favorites, but this is a solid starting point for new readers.” — Library Journal (starred review)
“This book was a lot of fun, sexy, with a compelling story. I really enjoyed the romance as it developed between Ledi and Thabioso, both interesting characters together and as individuals. Lots of erotic tension and a deeply satisfying ending. Definitely dive into this one.” — Roxane Gay on A Princess in Theory
“Alyssa Cole is the newly coronated queen of contemporary royal romance! A Princess in Theory is delicious fun. It has everything anyone could ever want in a royal romance, including a smart, funny heroine; a sweetly sexy prince; swoon-worthy romance; and an epic happily-ever-after. Long live the queen!” — Meg Cabot
"Cole subverts both expectations and gender roles with the smart, sexy contemporary romance that opens her Runaway Royals series... Their unlikely arranged marriage strikes a delicate balance of politics and passion that is sure to delight." — Publishers Weekly (Best Books of 2020)
“How to Catch a Queen is a cracking good tale. Cole’s worldbuilding is, as always, perfection, helped along by some engaging characters... one of the best romances of the year." — All About Romance
"[O]ne of the year's best romances."
How to Catch a Queen is a cracking good tale. Cole’s worldbuilding is, as always, perfection, helped along by some engaging characters... one of the best romances of the year."
"Cole’s majestic new Runaway Royals series spins off from her excellent Reluctant Royals trilogy, adding more dazzling depth... Cole’s contemporary romances shine with unique settings and complex characters. Fans will eagerly await her next royal match."
Booklist (starred review)
★ 10/01/2020
Sanyu wasn't prepared to become Sanyu II, King of Njaza. And he certainly wasn't ready to get married, but tradition dictates he wed before taking the throne, and it's his father's dying wish. His match from RoyalMatch.com is Shanti Mohapi of Thesolo, a commoner whose dream and life goal has been to become a queen so she'll have the power to help people. The initial sparks that fly seem to fizzle during the four-month trial marriage, but Shanti isn't giving up on her dream, and Sanyu is seeing a greater world through her eyes. But will his insecurities and unwillingness to topple tradition allow for his own happily ever after? VERDICT Cole (An Extraordinary Union ) launches the "Runaway Royals" series with a bang, introducing a sexy but shy king, a determined and caring queen, and a host of characters who leap off the page into the reader's imagination. Fans of the "Reluctant Royals" series will adore cameos by some of their favorites, but this is a solid starting point for new readers.—Melanie C. Duncan, Washington Memorial Lib., Macon, GA
2020-10-14
As heir to the throne of Njaza, Sanyu could never feel joy at the prospect of being king, only terrible pressure, anxiety, and responsibility. Sanyu wants to be a good king, but Musoke, his father’s most powerful adviser, insists on valorizing Njaza’s glorious past and ignoring its current problems. As the old king lies on his deathbed, Musoke coerces Sanyu to honor his father's wishes by marrying Shanti Mohapti, a woman from the neighboring country of Thesolo (the setting of Cole’s Reluctant Royals trilogy), a more forward-thinking and modern kingdom, who was the best candidate they could find at the last minute. Sanyu’s father had more than 30 wives, with each marriage lasting around four months; only if a king finds “the True Queen” will a royal marriage endure. Shanti, who was born to a family of goatherders, has wanted to be a queen her entire life, and she studied and learned about modern monarchies with unwavering devotion. Her goal is not wealth and fame but rather the ability to help her people and change the world for the better. Once the old king dies, Sanyu is overwhelmed by grief for his father and anxiety about his new role; Shanti’s eager readiness to be queen helps him understand that ruling a kingdom doesn’t have to be a burden. Sanyu must learn to wield his power as king while Shanti must reconcile her personal desires with the constraints of her new society. Since the novel focuses on each of their personal journeys as they ascend to the monarchy, their romance seems almost perfunctory.
Political intrigue greatly overshadows the romance plot, but interesting worldbuilding might draw readers in.
Karen Chilton narrates a royal love story. Sanyu, crown prince of Njaza, must wed, but he vows he will not fall in love with Shanti, the bride chosen for him. Shanti approaches marriage with equal pragmatism, as her goal since childhood has been to become a queen. Chilton is compassionate in her portrayal of Sanyu, who has suffered years of emotional abuse but is still realistic about the work he must do. Shanti is portrayed by Chilton as driven and determined, but with an underlying human vulnerability that ultimately makes her all the more powerful. The political situation the pair must navigate is complex but not insurmountable, and Chilton keeps her portrayals of the various ministers and palace staff distinct. K.M.P. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine
Karen Chilton narrates a royal love story. Sanyu, crown prince of Njaza, must wed, but he vows he will not fall in love with Shanti, the bride chosen for him. Shanti approaches marriage with equal pragmatism, as her goal since childhood has been to become a queen. Chilton is compassionate in her portrayal of Sanyu, who has suffered years of emotional abuse but is still realistic about the work he must do. Shanti is portrayed by Chilton as driven and determined, but with an underlying human vulnerability that ultimately makes her all the more powerful. The political situation the pair must navigate is complex but not insurmountable, and Chilton keeps her portrayals of the various ministers and palace staff distinct. K.M.P. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine
