The Runaway Princess by Hester Browne AKA: A Be Chic Literate Review

Between reading this, the return of Downton Abbey, and watching Mansfield Park, I've been hearing my thoughts in a British accent! After reading her "Little Lady" series, I've been a big fan of Hester Browne, and have looked forward to every new release from her since discovering her delightful way with words mixed her ability to tell fantastic stories in a very real life way.

The Runaway Princess by Hester Browne (released October 2, 2012)

Synopsis:
If Amy Wilde’s new boyfriend, Leo, treats her like a queen, that’s because he’s secretly a prince himself: Leopold William Victor Wolfsburg of Nirona, the ninth most eligible royal bachelor in the world. Amy soon discovers that dating an heir to a throne has many charms—intimate alfresco dinners, glittering galas, and, for a girl who lives in jeans and wellies, a dazzling new wardrobe with tiaras to match. But there are also drawbacks: imagine the anxiety of meeting your boyfriend’s parents multiplied by a factor of “riding in a private jet,” “staying in a castle,” and “discussing the line of succession over lunch.” Not to mention the sudden press interest in your very un-royal family. When an unexpected turn of events pushes Leo closer to the throne, the Wolfsburgs decide to step up Amy’s transformation from down-to-earth gardener to perfectly polished princess-in-waiting. Amy would do anything for Leo, but is finding her Prince Charming worth the price of losing herself?

This is one of those books that you can't seem to put down once you get into it; where you can't wait to see how the story plays out, but you don't want it to come to an end either. Ms. Browne did an excellent job of developing the relationships between the characters, and though we get to know the heroine, Amy Wilde, well enough to genuinely root for her and her happiness, she is such a well rounded and multi-dimensional personality, that at times you find yourself questioning her sense of  reasoning and actions (just as you would a real life girlfriend). There is also a delicious sense of suspense throughout the whole story- it really keeps you turning the pages to find out what the huge catalyst in Amy's life was. And though you literally don't find out the whole back story until within the last 100 pages (the book is over 400 pages, so meaty but leisurely), you don't feel like you've been strung along once you get there. I also really appreciate the reality that is infused in to the story-there is no cookie cutter happy ending, but it is satisfying. 

I highly recommend The Runaway Princess, as well as these other Hester Browne books:

The Little Lady Agency and the Prince

Little Lady, Big Apple

The Finishing Touches

...all of which I've read and loved. So much so in fact, that I am willing to go out on a limb and recommend this one as well...

...Swept Off Her Feet, which I have in my personal library, but haven't read yet. I have a feeling that it will be just as good as it's predecessors, so I have the utmost confidence in recommending it to you lovelies!

So what good books have you found yourself lost in lately? My inquiring mind wants to know! Leave a comment below and let me know what you think! Until next time...