Hatty leaves her home in the Ozarks to study journalism abroad in the small country of Toulene. She has aspirations of becoming an investigative reporter, but lands an internship at a tabloid. She accidentally runs into the Prince, John Meinrad, at a bar, and it isn't long before fate has them head over heels for each other.
First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes the baby in the baby carriage. Except, it doesn't for John and Hatty. It's not for lack of trying. Their struggle to conceive is heart-wrenching.
The writing is strong and clever, and Hatty is very easy to sympathize with. However, I couldn't get past how much she willingly gives up to be with John. I understand they're in love, but the sacrifice is very one-sided. In order to "be allowed" to marry John, Hatty must abandon her internship, the research she has conducted for what was to be her first big story, her degree (they won't even let her graduate!), and her U.S. citizenship. She does it with hardly any fuss. Hatty is so strong in her struggle with infertility, willing to go to great lengths to be a mother. Where was that passion for her career and education? I almost abandoned the book after Part One because I was so pissed at Hatty for how quickly she caved to the royal demands.
The latter half of the book is worth it though. It is touching and emotional, and even brought a few tears as I read. Hatty seems to grow stronger as she faces increasing pressure from the monarchy to produce an heir, and even blackmails the King when he threatens to have her marriage to John annulled. In her desperation to conceive, she seems to find herself, and it's beautiful to see.
If you are looking for a whirlwind, fairytale romance, this is definitely not the book for you. Yes, our heroine gets her prince, but it's not the flippant happy ending you might expect. It's so much more.
** I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. **
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