CBR14 Bingo: Bodies – There is a pair of attractive bodies on the cover. Nya discovers what pleasures her body.
Is there a name for the sub-set of romance that has a trio of women friends finding their perfect partner across a trilogy? I enjoy them! Nora Roberts was my introduction and I devoured several. Then there was a long hiatus of romance reading. Cannonball Read inspired me to start seeking out new romances and that brought me to Alyssa Cole, and her “Reluctant Royals” series. Anyone have a good recommendation for this type of trilogy, please share in the comments!
After reading A Duke by Default, I decided a re-read of A Prince on Paper was in order. I first read A Prince on Paper in November 2020. Loved it then and still love it now. This is the third book in Alyssa Cole’s “Reluctant Royals” novels. It was also the first book I read of the series. It was great rereading Nya and Johan’s story with the full context of the characters. I liked the greater understanding of the friendship bonds between Nya, Ledi, and Portia. Their personalities in the group text chat shine through in a new way. Knowing the circumstances that brings them all together for the start of this book, meant I got a lot more out of the story this time.
It was nice going back into A Prince on Paper with Nya Jerami of Thesolo and Johan van Braustein of Leichtienbourg as fully formed characters in my mind. This time I had an understanding of the events that led to Nya’s father imprisonment and her disgrace by association. Now knowing Johan’s actions in A Duke by Default, he has more depth than when I initially met him. This foreknowledge made the fateful encounter on the plane ride at the start of A Prince on Paper more poignant and gave me better appreciation for how that scene unfolded.
Everything I liked the first time, I enjoyed just as much this time. I think having positive portrayals of a non-binary person coming out are important. I didn’t expect that in a romance novel and am here for it! Nya’s discovery of what gives her pleasure and sexy times with Johan are just as titillating.
Aside from wanting to experience Nya and Johan’s story a second time with new context, this was a comfort re-read. All of my reading plans got thrown out the window as various United States Supreme Court rulings were announced. I started with the romance manga Hana-Kimi, then A Duke by Default, and now A Prince on Paper. I’ve since switched gears and just finished a fun fantasy YA book that is first in a trilogy. Review of A Ship of Smoke and Steel by Django Wexler is forthcoming.
Note: Handsome boy, Sosuke’s papers say he’s mutt but he’s a Prince in our hearts!