Hathor and the Prince

In the lovely third Du Bells romance (after Verity and the Forbidden Suitor), McAvoy returns to her diverse take on Regency England. As one of the younger daughters of the powerful Du Bell family, who are Black, Lady Hathor feels trapped in the shadow of her older sisters, Aphrodite and Verity, who can do no wrong. She hopes if she can secure an impressive match during her second season in London high society, she will finally garner the admiration of her family. Prince Wilhelm Augustus Karl Von Edward of Malrovia, fourth in line to the throne, seems a promising prospect—if only he weren’t a self-proclaimed “notorious rake” who views marriage as a prison after years of witnessing his unhappy parents. Hathor and Wilhelm meet at her parents’ Belclere Castle for a weeklong social and sparks fly. The more they get to know each other, the clearer it becomes that they are more than their titles. As Hathor learns to navigate the tense political world of royalty, Wilhelm comes to understand that love does not have to be painful. Readers will love Hathor’s spunk and Wilhelm’s personal growth as these two work together toward their happy ending. This keeps the series going strong. (Mar.)