The Cost of the Crown

By Joy Crain

Missy Hanson never dreamed of falling in love and living happily ever after. In fact, she doesn't know what she wants to do after she graduates from college; nevertheless, she's content working as a journalist for her local newspaper and assisting at her aunt's California bakery. When a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity emerges for her to visit the southeast Asian country of Andelar, Missy is thrown into the world of royalty as the special guest of the king and queen-and it's clear she doesn't belong, despite her family ties to the area. But the royal family isn't without its mysteries. Rumors abound that a secret prince is hiding amid Andelar's society, and Missy is determined to find out who he is.

Aiden Waverly never wanted a crown or a title. He craves a normal life, but being a secret prince of biracial background is difficult enough and would create chaos amid the tabloids if the press learned about his parentage. After years of traveling the world to help those in the greatest of need, he's faced with a life-altering decision: take his place as crown prince or walk away as a commoner. With no clear path that will satisfy him and the royal family, the tug between following his heart and doing his duty to Andelar becomes harder every day.

When a chance encounter throws Missy and Aiden together, neither of them are prepared to challenge what they thought they knew about themselves. And when an ancient royal law threatens to tear them apart, they must decide how much they are willing to risk for love.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0CG2PPSR3
• ISBN13: 9798887090214
• Release Date: September 2023
• Publisher: Whitecrown Publishing
• Length: 284 Pages
• Weight: 0.66 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

great debut novel

"He couldn't shake his past, but he could shape his future." Bravo to Joy Crain for this excellent debut novel. I love royalty books and this one had it all - grandeur and opulence tied with royalty but also the need for balance between tradition and progress. Missy and Aiden were such lovable characters. Their common bond of mixed heritage and not really feeling like they fit in anywhere was heartbreakingly raw and real. Faith thread and the theme of forgiveness were strong throughout the story and Missy's spiritual growth was satisfying, even as she struggled against sense of abandonment. Aiden's backstory made me cry and his journey to finding his true self while battling nightmares, insecurities, perceived failures, and expectations made him a valiant hero and prince. I really enjoyed the fictional Asian island country of Andelar in the South Pacific. The island was beautiful and the culture, food, language, and political layout were intriguing and captivating. The author addressed some issues within the Asian culture like stigma of adoption and neglect of the homeless, poor, and orphaned, which broke my heart. It's a book that will leave your heart filled and happy at the end. I received a complimentary copy courtesy of WhiteCrown Publishing and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.