American Royalty

An audacious American rapper charms the pants off a conservative British prince in Livesay’s (the Girls Trip series) refreshing romance. Prince Jameson is content to trade his royal duties for a career as a college professor, but when the queen pressures him to help the royal family save face after a string of scandals, he agrees to help organize a weeklong benefit. He hastily selects Danielle “Duchess” Nelson as the musical act, assuming she’s a pop star and that her royal stage name will win him points for irony. Duchess sees the opportunity to repair the damage an ongoing beef with a younger musician has caused to her reputation and agrees to the gig. When prince and rapper meet, neither is what the other expects. Jameson is as intrigued by Duchess’s talent, intelligence, and beauty as she is by his good looks, kind heart, and gentle spirit. The odds are stacked against their romance, and a jealous singer and Jameson’s ruthless uncle only add to the obstacles when word of their secret affair gets out. Livesay does a masterful job showing how these apparent opposites learn to support each other, and mines their different vernaculars for humor. The indisputable charm and palpable chemistry of the protagonists make this royal romance a gem. Agent: Nalini Akolekar, Spencerhill Assoc. (June)