Second in the Runaway Royals spinoff series and a F/F romance, Beznaria tracks down Makeda in Atlantic City, NJ, to determine if she is in fact a missing princess. Despite a whole lot of resistance, they eventually end up on a transatlantic journey to Ibarania, where a surprising twist awaits. I enjoyed Makeda and Bez's characters and their developing relationship and story.

This book just did not work for me as there was never enough redemption for Beznaria for me. The entire book I just *barely* liked her as she interjected and overstepped boundaries left and right. Every time Makeda made it clear that she needed something a certain way to be comfortable Beznaria did the exact opposite or did barely enough. She kept things from her after she promised she wouldn't and I kept hoping for a redemption or a true grovel that was worthy of her....it never came.

And then on top of that the ending made absolutely no sense to me? I'm still thinking about it two days later and I don't really get what happened. And then after all the lead up to the conclusion it was there and done extremely briefly and then the book ends. I needed more at that conclusion.

I also missed the connections that are usually in this author's books. I didn't feel that - both of these characters felt pretty isolated which is not a theme I'm used to here.

Another great addition to the Runaway Royals series, this book has a nice twist ending that falls in line with both characters.

Makeda Hicks's life isn't going exactly the way she had planned. She's a helper, always wanting the best for other people and working to make their lives easier. However, that has made her something of a doormat. And that is coming back to bite her. Her girlfriend is now and ex because Makeda helped her a little too much. Makeda is out of a job because she wasn't able to stand up for herself and prove that she deserved a promotion so, while a coworker got the job, Makeda got the boot. Now, an old story of her grandmother's is coming back once again, the fiction that Makeda's mother was conceived with the king of Ibarania. That story is what caused Makeda's mother to live in a fairy tale all of Makeda's life.
Beznari Chetchevaliere just wants to prove that her grandmother didn't kill the old queen and that means finding the lost heir of Ibarania. Makeda seems like a good fit since she is in a picture (sent by her grandmother) wearing a ring that looks like it could have come from the kingdom.
The two are immediately attracted to each other but are diametrically opposed to what the end of the heir search should look like.

Four stars
Follows How to Catch a Queen
This book comes out May 25th, 2021
Opinions are my own

I LOVED this book so much. It's definitely one of my favorite Alyssa Cole novels, which are always fantastic. As always the story was layered and thoughtful and dealt with some serious stuff, while still being a completely swoony romance novel.

Makeda Hicks tries so hard to be useful and nice that she ends up pushing people away by giving too much It's lovely to see her learn to give only what she can and needs to, and learn to take things for herself too.

Beznaria Chetchevaliere is a chaos agent extraordinaire and watching her in action is both hilarious and awe-inspiring. Her creative solutions to problems may be wacky, but they *work*.

I loved the moment when Makeda realizes that Benzaria's entire family are chaos agents and I dearly hope we get more of the Chetchevalieres in future books. And the cargo ship crew - they were awesome as well. I'm definitely hoping for more of them in the next book.

The fake-marriage and only-one-bed tropes were used so well here, and I absolutely loved the twist at the end -- caught me totally off guard. Just excellently played.

I'm recommending this book to everyone who loves Alyssa Cole's works and everyone who loves romance but hasn't read any of hers yet. Seriously, what are you waiting for? This is an excellent book to start with. It ties into the previous royal romances, but you don't have to have read them to understand this one.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Avon for providing an e-arc for review.

I have yet to come across a book by Alyssa Cole that I don’t like, especially her tales of modern day royal love. I really enjoyed Makeda and Bez’s story.

DNF. I'm disappointed because I normally love Cole's contemporaries but this series is not working for me.

This was a delightfully tropey F/F romance that left me with a strong urge to travel on a cargo ship (not a previous ambition of mine).

Beznaria Chetchevaliere is on a Quest to redeem her family's honour by finding the lost heir to Ibarania. Makeda Hicks has reason to believe that she might be that heir - but having spent her childhood dealing with the fallout from her mother's obsession with their possible royal lineage, the last thing she wants to do is become a princess.

The two are at odds from the start, and it ought, really, to be an unbalanced competition - Makeda is a people-pleaser who sorts out everyone else's messes and hardly even knows how to say no, whereas Beznaria is a stubborn, charming ball of chaotic energy. Yet somehow, Beznaria does have limits to her pushiness where Makeda is concerned, and Makeda does have more of a spine than is immediately apparent. Their relationship is full of misunderstandings born of insecurities (both women have more than their fair share of those), but is surprisingly sweet nonetheless.

There are some excellent side characters in this book - I was especially fond of the many members of the ship's crew, and trust that AZ will be getting his story soon - and also quite a lot of plot, with some interesting twists, but the relationship between Makeda and Beznaria really is the heart of the book. I liked the way that the story was as much about them learning to know themselves better and to grow as individuals as it was about their romantic relationship.

I love love love this cover. I was super excited to read Bez's story since she was hilarious to me in How to Catch a Queen. She's still pretty quirky and her skills as a private investigator World Federation of Monarchies is a really cool concept. I thought the commentary on the role modern day monarchs can play in a country's economy was pointed. I'm looking at your British monarch. Overall, there's a bit of adventure (fake marriage, only one bed on a ship) and underline message of knowing your worth and value. This is a slooooooooooww burn romance so be prepared but the ending is satisfying

CW: relationship break up, lay off, manipulative behavior, and strained parental relationship (addiction), ptsd, cheating

3.5 stars. A fun story of finding who you are and how you fit into your family.

Makeda has spent most of her life trying to avoid having discussions with her family about her possible royal blood after having her mother spiral into obsession about proving her heritage. Then an investigator shows up, determined to force Makeda to go to Ibarania and take the ceremonial crown. This would let Beznaria clear her family's name. Due to a threat to Makeda's grandmother's livelihood, Makeda eventually agrees to go to Ibarania. However, Beznaria doesn't have plane tickets booked; she has passage on a ship full of quirky characters and a requirement for her and Makeda to pretend they're on their honeymoon.

I really enjoyed the cast of characters in this book, especially the ship's crew. They were extremely loveable and I wish we could get to know them a bit better. Makeda and Beznaria are both a bit harder to understand. Although I can understand their motives at times, I struggled with them both talking about the need for open communication while simultaneously lying to each other. I do think they both helped each other grow as individuals, though.

If you've enjoyed the other contemporary royal romances Alyssa Cole has written, I think you'll like this one too! I liked seeing the bits of connections to others stories that we got to see. And I definitely want AK's story as soon as possible.

An Alyssa Cole novel always fills me with joy as I get started. This book features Bez, who we met in the previous Runaway Royals novel, and her new love story. I have to say, the story went in different directions and I DID NOT predict the ending (which utterly delighted me). While it took me a little bit to warm up to Makeda, I really found her personal journey interesting and was rooting for her so hard. The pacing was a bit up and down, which meant that I wasn't immediately drawn into the book in the same way as some of her other novels.

Alyssa Cole can do no wrong. A full length sapphic story - yes please. I cannot wait for the rest of the world to read this book and love it as much as I did!

This is the second book in the series, but I feel it can standalone very well!

Makeda Hicks is a doormat. She lets people walk all over her, and she goes out of her way to do things for others, even when they don't deserve it, or didn't ask for it. When she loses her job and her girlfriend on the same day, she knows things need to change. She heads home to her grandmother's B&B to stay, and help out. But when an investigator shows up, convinced Makeda is the long lost princess of Ibarania, she isn't having it. It brings up a lot of painful memories of her mom's downward spiral trying to investigate that very connection, and she wants nothing to do with it.

Beznaria Chetchevaliere works for the World Federation of Monarchies, but she only ever follows her own rules. She's in the U.S. investigating a bunch of (so far ALL bogus) claims to the Ibaranian throne, when she comes upon one from the grandmother of Makeda Hicks, Ora. Ora had a short affair with a supposed prince of Ibarania, to whom she birthed a daughter. Since this is the only promising lead Bez has had, she's determined to follow it, regardless of what her bosses say. Ora is thrilled to meet her, but Makeda, not so much. However, Bez has sworn to return the rightful heir to Ibarania, and she isn't going to take no for an answer.

Bez and Makeda had sparks flying all over the place from the first meeting, but they both had very good reasons to ignore them, and not pursue anything between them. Makeda only has bad memories associated with Ibarania, after growing up with her mother, who was OBSESSED with the idea that they were royalty. It caused a downward spiral for her mother, which led to a fracture in their relationship. It also led to Makeda being bullied in school, among other things. She has ZERO interest in helping to prove that her mother may have been right, as she fears the consequences of that. Bez's family has held shame for years over the disappearance of the former queen, as her grandmother was head of the royal guard at the time it happened. As a child, Bez promised her grandmother that she would help prove her innocence, and she is still determined to do so.

Both women's grandmothers played a big role in both their lives, and in the storyline of the book. I enjoyed their relationships, and how that was an aspect of what they respected about each other too. The side characters from the cargo ship were a delight, and I can only presume that AK will be the hero in the next book?! I was so intrigued by him, and I can't wait to learn more. That whole plot of their travel by sea was such fun, and I enjoyed how their close quarters led them to understanding each other so much better.

This was quite the slow burn, and the heat level wasn't as high as book 1 in the series. I did understand that Makeda and Bez working at cross-purposes meant it would need to be a slow burn situation, but I think it was even slower than I expected. I enjoyed their connection, and the unique aspects of their personalities, and how they fit together so well. But, towards the end, I felt things were a little rushed. I would've liked to see some things on page that we didn't get to see, like some sort of final resolution with Makeda's mother.

This was a cute story, with a bit of intrigue, and many fun, unique characters, and I enjoyed it. If AK is the hero of the next book, I'll DEFINITELY be back for more in this series!

How to Find a Princess by Alyssa Cole is a swashbuckling sapphic romance novel that will melt your heart. The second book in the runaway royals series is a queer Anastasia retelling with a princess/ ladyknight relationship at its center. Yes, it's as good as you think.
Makeda Hicks just lost her job and her girlfriend after years of giving her all to fixing things for others. She is done with making other people's lives easier at her own expense, so she decides to go back home and work at her grandmother's B&B instead. Beznaria Chetchevaliere is an investigator for the World Federation of Monarchs who is set on finding the long-lost princess of Ibarania and restoring her family's honor. Turns out, Makeda might just be that princess, and Bez will use all the tools at her disposal to get her to claim her crown. Did I mention there is an adventure on a cargo ship with a wonderful crew, a fake marriage, and other adorable hijinks. It's amazing.
Alyssa Cole is wonderful at building characters. Both Makeda and Bez have well-rounded backstories and flaws that make me want to hug them forever. Makeda is a helper and Bez is a protector. Their relationship dynamics are particularly balanced on the notion that Makeda can relinquish some of her helping tendencies because Bez is focused on her comfort. I particularly enjoyed the way clear communication was something they both were looking to improve. Watching them practice with one another was equally adorable and enlightening. I will love them forever.
Now, you will not be disappointed by the trappings of the novel if you are a plot-driven reader. The tension of finding the lost princess maintains the pace and establishes obstacles that move the plot forward. From the B&B to the cargo ship, to the island, new challenges arise, testing their relationship and the characters individually. As an aside, I would love to work on a ship with Yoga, Karaoke, and Barbecues. It's amazing and not industry standard at all, but one thing I love about romance novels is their ability to manifest the jobs we wish existed.
Fans of the series are already chomping at the bit for this novel and they will not be disappointed. Romance, sea adventures, and political ruses all tired up in one amazing package. How to Find a Princess by Alyssa Cole is set to release May 25, 2021.

Thank you, Avon and Harper Voyager via NetGalley for providing the eARC of How to Find a Princess by Alyssa Cole in exchange for my honest review.

Heat Factor: Low heat
Character Chemistry: Sparkling
Plot: A Royal Investigator who follows the letter of the law but not the spirit + A Long-Lost Princess who has no interest in claiming the throne + A Transatlantic Voyage = Hijinks on the High Seas
Overall: It wrapped up abruptly, leaving me feeling vaguely dissatisfied

Here’s when I knew that How to Find a Princess was going to be a romp: the first scene we have with Beznaria Chetcevaliere, top-10 (out of 10) investigator for the World Federation of Monarchists, features her squaring off against her boss, Algernon Shropsbottomshireburrough (pronounced Smith), Lord Higginshoggins of Hogginshiggins. So. That’s the tone we have going here.

The basic setup is that Bez wants to redeem her family honor by finding the missing heir of Ibarania (an Imaginary Benevolent Monarchy in the Mediterranean, currently sans monarch). Makeda Hicks is a regular woman in New Jersey, whose grandmother had a fling with a guy claiming to be an exiled Ibaranian prince; Makeda’s mom clung to the princess fantasy, to the detriment of Makeda’s well-being when she was a child. However, while Makeda has no interest in being a princess, her profile still ends up in Bez’s hands—and Bez is convinced that Makeda is the heir she has been seeking.

The first chunk of the book is therefore Bez aggressively wooing Makeda, in order to convince Makeda to join her in Ibarania. This part is fun, and the chemistry between Bez and Makeda absolutely sizzles.

Eventually, Makeda agrees to join Bez in Ibarania, for two reasons. First, participating in the hunt for the Long Lost Heir comes with a cash prize, and Makeda—recently unemployed, owing money on an ex-girlfriend’s loan, worried that her grandmother will lose her home—could use the cash. And second, if she can prove without a doubt that she’s NOT a princess, maybe her mom will finally let it go.

Thus begins the second chunk of the book, where Makeda and Bez pretend to be married so they can travel on a shipping boat across the Atlantic. Bez, uh, might not exactly be doing what she’s supposed to be, and does not have institutional support or funding for this trip. This part is also fun, as Bez and Makeda pretend to be newlyweds, and also figure out how to communicate with each other. It’s a little looser in terms of plotting than the first chunk—we are introduced to a whole bunch of new characters (including, presumably, the hero of Book 3), but there are about a dozen of them, so they feel more like sketches than fully-formed individuals.

Anyways, so things are meandering along, and Makeda is learning to put herself first instead of always jumping in a helping, and we arrive in Ibarania and…the book ends, lickety-split. There’s a DNA test and Makeda’s mom makes a surprise appearance and a ball and the Big Reveal, all in about two chapters, and then…that’s it. The biggest hanging thread, for me, was that Makeda and Bez’s relationship felt very unresolved. It seems like they are going to stay married, but they’re not actually married, and live in two different countries, and are only just now figuring how that they really care for each other and…how is this going to work, exactly? I just felt like I was left hanging on a lot of questions. An epilogue would have helped immensely here.

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.

This review is also available at The Smut Report.

I am a huge fan of Alyssa Cole and this was one of my most anticipated books of the year. And I really liked it! I was drawn in immediately by a character who struggles with people pleasing, extremely relatable. And we've got a grandmother with a lot of character, which I always adore. The setup, which is fake dating plus the Anastasia retelling, really worked for me. The voyage on the utopian cargo ship was truly so much fun! The only thing hung me up was the way the romance itself was paced. There were some tense moments early on, then things got a little slack, and it picked back up at the end. So it didn't have the kind of tension that really pays off for me with a slow burn. That said, a fun read and I enjoy the universe of this series so much.

Despite not loving How to Catch a Queen, I was still so looking forward to How to Find a Princess for several reasons. First, Alyssa Cole is amazing. Second, I really loved our introduction to Bez in Shanti's book. Third, a f/f Anastasia retelling? Sign me up! But, unfortunately, my excitement didn't carry through the actual reading of this book and I'm instead having to write this review from a place of disappointment. Obviously, Alyssa Cole is incredibly talented and this book is as well written as always. What didn't land for me was actually the thing that I think Alyssa is the best at, the characters. (Or the romance. Or the pacing in general.)

For over half of this book, I did not have a good grasp on who Bez is. I am still unsure if Bez confused me because her patterns and ways of thinking are unfamiliar to my own brand of neuro-divergence or if she just really didn't make sense as a person. I am inclined to believe that it's the former and this is a case of me not understanding something fundamental about a character. This is definitely possible. I'm also a rule follower so there were things about who Bez is as a person that just did not compute for me at all.

Makeda, on the other hand, is a people pleaser to the extent that she winds up putting herself at risk for emotional harm. She goes overboard. She doesn't have great boundaries. Or boundaries really at all. So when she loses her job to a person who is just objectively worse at the job than Makeda is, she goes back to her grandmother's B&B and throws herself sullenly into that. When Bez sort of crashes into her life, things take a bit of a turn, bringing up a lot of bad memories from her past.

This book is interesting in that it is such a slow burn and such a slow moving book and then quite a bit of action thrown in at the end. It didn't really feel like romance novel pacing and while that's a good thing, to change things up sometimes, it just didn't work for me here. I found myself reading just a few pages at a time and then getting distracted. I wanted to do almost anything else besides finish it.

So even though there was a lot to love in the writing (for real, the way Alyssa Cole can express how being numb is not the same thing as moving past something is genius), this book just didn't work for me as a whole. I am, though, once again, really looking forward to the next book in the series because I loved the person I think is the next romantic lead in this one!

Thanks so much to Netgalley and Avon for the opportunity to read and review this book early.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.

In spite of being previously burned with Alyssa Cole’s contemporaries, I had a lot of hope for How to Find a Princess. I mean, a queer Anastasia retelling! And Alyssa Cole’s previous queer books have been my favorites of hers.

But in spite of this I struggled. I liked the initial concept, and Makeda and Bez are both intriguing characters from completely opposing lives, presenting a great case for drama. And the ultimate plot twist of who the princess was is great, if a bit weirdly executed.

And that brings me to my issues, and I think it’s one I have with many of Cole’s full-length works: she’s trying to do too much, so she loses focus of what really matters. I could easily have seen this being much shorter, cutting out a lot of the drama and cutting to the chase, which is probably why I liked the novellas more. Her historical works at least have logical reasons for there to be more going on, but other than fleshing out the politics of the fictional countries, while they can be a lot of fun, have started to feel like a lot of filler for the sake of it.

I’m starting to think maybe it’s time to stop waiting for Alyssa Cole’s contemporaries to work for me, as it’s clear I’ll always have issues with them…yet they always sound so good and make me want to pick them up! At the end of the day, I see why they’re so well loved, and I think Alyssa Cole super fans will love this one just as much as her previous works.

How to Find a Princess is a queer Anastasia retelling where Makeda, a long lost African princess falls for Beznaria, the (pansexual, neurodivergent) female agent sent to track her down. Which is a cool idea and I had a pretty good time with this book, but the execution was mixed.

One thing to note is that this book is VERY slow burn in terms of steamy scenes. We don't even get a real kiss until the 75% mark and then there are just a couple of steamier scenes. And this is somewhat related to my main issues with this book: the pacing and the underdeveloped romance. I really loved both of our main characters- they are well developed and each have their own growth arc through the narrative. And their forced proximity brings those things to the surface. However, for a book that is taking so long to develop a physical relationship, I didn't get enough building tension or ooey gooey feelings to really buy the romance.

And part of the problem is that the pacing is weird with a LOT happening in the last 10-15% of the book that made it feel rushed and didn't give the relationship time to breathe. This almost reads like it's edging towards women's fiction because the plot feels more about Makeda learning to have better boundaries, dealing with trauma from her mom, and facing the reasons for her past relationships failing, more than about her actually falling in love with Bez. Bez is more the catalyst for those changes if that makes sense. And look, the characters are great. The tone is light and funny, the plot is silly but interesting....I just didn't quite get what I was hoping for out of this as a romance. And this is similar to my issue with the first book in the series as well, which makes me wonder if the author is just becoming more interested in writing different kinds of stories. I enjoy her books and will continue to read, but it might change my expectations. I received an advance copy of this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I typically enjoy most of Cole's romances, but this one fell a little short for me. The characters and their development were wonderful, but the pacing was a little off and the end was very abrupt. There were several typos and missing words that will hopefully be caught before publication.

3.5/5

Bez was the best! Makeda had it tough and Had to learn how to defend herself. Makeda truly was stomped all over. Learning to defend her own wants helped her defend other people in the process. I definitely felt like this had more of a princess diaries feel then an Anastasia retelling. I was not expecting the ending at all. I enjoyed this read.

I really didn't know how Bez and Makeda were going to come together in this because I was not getting the chemistry between them in the first 50% of the book. It wasn't just the sorta rivals thing, the interactions just felt really forced at times. It did work itself out in the last 50% and I started to see them more authentically come together.