The Princess Deception

In Stark’s enjoyable third Princess Affair contemporary (after The Princess and the Prix), Prince Sebastian’s heroin overdose spurs his protective twin sister, Viola, to cut her hair and assume his role in their European country’s World Cup bid. Missy Duke, a former American soccer play whose knee injury ended her impressive career and forced her to take an unsatisfying sports reporting gig, immediately discerns Viola’s impersonation and feels potent desire for the androgynous figure. Despite their social separation, their mutual attraction grows swiftly to emotional intimacy, until an unwise revelation by Missy severely damages Viola’s trust. Steamy sex scenes with a dominance-submission vibe and long conversations with their female friend groups help Viola and Missy reunite and inspire future vocational paths. Stark turns a trite Shakespearean plot hook into an ornate tapestry that explores gender presentation, familial love, and social responsibility for two women enduring public opinion in the spotlight. (May)