Smart, responsible, and aggressively reserved, Naledi Smith
has spent
her life making ends meet. The last thing she needs to deal
with is an
email scammer claiming she's betrothed to the prince of an
African
country who wants to claim her as his bride. And while she
keeps
deleting those pesky emails, Ledi is also juggling the
relentless
schedule of going to grad school in epidemiology and side
jobs to keep
up with her bills. On top of that, Ledi is getting all of
the grunt work as
a lab assistant instead of getting more hands-on experience,
and she
has to train the new guy at her restaurant job. Jamal is
ridiculously
cocky, too charming for anyone's good, and the hottest guy
Ledi's seen
in a while. Even though she wants to fire him immediately
for having no
experience, Ledi can't help but be attracted to him. When
they keep
bumping into each other, Ledi and Jamal can't deny the sparks
between them.
Prince Thabiso of Thesolo has never forgotten the girl he was
betrothed to when they were children, and he's been
searching for her
ever since her family fled from their homeland many years
ago. When
his assistant miraculously locates Naledi in New York City,
Thabiso
decides to go there and collect her in person and marry her
as soon as
possible. While his urgency to do so is fueled by pressure
from his
parents to grow up and take his role as crown prince more
seriously,
Thabiso also wants to reconnect with his betrothed. But when
he arrives in New York, his plans to reveal who he is
are thwarted when Ledi's no-nonsense approach to everything
leaves
him no choice but to keep his identity a secret. As they
grow closer,
Ledi and Thabiso both reveal things that they've kept hidden
from
everyone. But with all of Thesolo counting on Thabiso to
return home
with the long-lost princess and future queen, neither Ledi
nor Thabiso
are ready to fully commit to the lives expected of them.
Fun, flirty, and fresh! A PRINCESS IN
THEORY by Alyssa Cole is royally romantic! Ledi and Thabiso are
both engaging and well-developed characters that you want to
see
succeed. I loved that Ledi is a STEM-focused heroine; she's
smart
and isn't afraid to show it. Thabiso comes across as a
playboy prince
who needs to be reckoned with, and Ledi is just the woman to
do so!
The country of Thesolo is richly and beautifully described,
along with
the trials and tribulations of a royal family trying to make
the best
decisions to move their country forward in the world. Ledi's
studies are
a huge part of her life, and they are thoughtfully explained
and allowed
to flourish. Above all, this book is just plain FUN!
Mistaken identity, a
long-lost princess, whirlwind romance... there's something
in this book
for everyone. The first in Cole's Reluctant Royals series, I am looking forward to
the next
book! Highly recommend.
Between grad school and multiple jobs, Naledi Smith doesn’t have time for fairy tales…or patience for the constant e-mails claiming she’s betrothed to an African prince. Sure. Right. Delete! As a former foster kid, she’s learned that the only things she can depend on are herself and the scientific method, and a silly e-mail won’t convince her otherwise. Prince Thabiso is the sole heir to the throne of Thesolo, shouldering the hopes of his parents and his people. At the top of their list? His marriage. Ever dutiful, he tracks down his missing betrothed. When Naledi mistakes the prince for a pauper, Thabiso can’t resist the chance to experience life—and love—without the burden of his crown. The chemistry between them is instant and irresistible, and flirty friendship quickly evolves into passionate nights. But when the truth is revealed, can a princess in theory become a princess ever after?