Reluctantly Royal

Archer’s royal romp is sexy fun with surprising depth. Written entirely from the point of view of HRH Prince Lucien Arthur Beauregard Mathieu Greiner (just call him Luc) of a fictional European country, it chronicles a fun, if familiar, tale of a prince falling in love with a commoner. Luc and Hannah Allen meet the old-fashioned way: at a dive bar in Las Vegas. From the start, Archer anchors the story in strong emotions: Luc’s beloved twin brother recently died, and Hannah has been diagnosed with a serious health condition. Rather than feeling manufactured, this drama adds layers to two already appealing protagonists. Memorable supporting characters include Hannah’s feisty but loving mother; Luc’s surviving brother, Bastien (who begins as a jerk and, to the author’s credit, becomes appealing later on); a scheming servant; and Luc’s majestic mother, who comes through for her son when it counts. Surprises—both good and bad—run through the book’s climax and ending. An even-handed balance of humor and pathos keeps the pages turning. (Jan.)