I really thought That Prince is Mine would be a good fit for me, but it never worked. I read it in fits and starts because I kept losing interest. I think plenty of that is about the state of my life right now, so I don’t discount the potential of this book for other readers, but I found the story pretty lackluster.

Reasons I absolutely adore THE PRINCE IS MINE:

• Royal Romance
• Work & Pleasure
• Hot Hot Hot Attraction
• Celebrating Korean Culture
• Food as Love Language
• Supportive Family
• Love Letter to Los Angeles

For the readers who love Crazy Rich Asians, and The Prince & Me.

The standout here is the work done on page to build the relationship between Emma and Michel. Their romamce has a built-in deadline of 3 months, so this could have crashed and burned as an insta-love story. But fear not, they date, and talk, and drive, and cry, and visit family to get to know each other. I appreciate the dedication to give Emma and Michel a falling in love that is realistic as much as it is a whirlwind fantasy.

The drama is mainly figuring out how this cross-class relationship will work once they have to face the reality of Emma's career aspirations and family obligations, and Michel's duty to his country. The angst is earned because you are so invested in them that you want to protect them at all cost. Love the drama.

Overall, a high energy spicy read with passion for food, love, and family. Thank you Netgalley & St. Martins Press for this advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

First off, thank you to Macmillan audio for the audiobook copy!

Unfortunately, I learned very quickly that this story wasn’t for me. I was hoping for some manner of royal charm, as well as some comical takes between characters with such very different life circumstances. I just.. didn’t think this was funny at all. But more than anything, I felt like the romance was terribly forced. I might just not be a fan of the arranged marriage execution in this one, but ultimately it fell very flat for me.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a really fun book. I enjoyed it a lot!

Dual POV
Love averse heroine
Opposites attract
Foodie romcom
A prince in disguise
He falls first
“Emma” fanfic


That Prince is Mine embodies a glittering sunshine, a sparkling rainbow, the perfect color blue sky, complete with giant white puffy clouds.

Emma and Michel are possibly the cutest couple in fictional existence. The instant chemistry, the absolute sweetness, the friendship, the respect, and the love between the pair can warm even the coldest of hearts. 💕

I cannot recommend this book enough! But be prepared because the food is next level (I had to skip over passages because they made me so hungry—but don’t worry, I highlighted and bookmarked the heck out of this book because there are many a dish I must try).

That Prince is Mine is a lovely light romance that pairs two people from different cultures and different ideas of love. Emma Yoon is a Korean Royal Court instructor in LA with a grandmother who is a matchmaker for a living. Emma believes you need to have a lot in common with the person you marry for it to work. She doesn't see the importance of romance. Michel Aubert is a Prince and also a visiting instructor at USC. He is destined for an arranged marriage but all he wants is to fall in love. I found this story and our couple to be sweet. While the story is not too deep, I especially liked the inclusion of Korean cuisine. I was interested in what made Korean Royal Court Cuisine different and including two characters with different cultural backgrounds was appealing.

Thank you St. Martin's Griffin for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

BIPOC Steamy Romance about an LA Korean royal court cuisine instructor's search for a perfect-on-paper husband's waylaid by a prince in disguise looking for love.

4/5 stars: This is a stand-alone by Lee's which is a Steamy Romance that takes place in California and follows a Korean royal court cuisine instructor whose quest for a perfect-on-paper husband and arranged marriage's derailed by a gorgeous professor and prince in disguise looking for a love match. Lee's writing and character work are excellent; the characters are well-rounded, complex and yet remain likable. Emma and Michel are great and it's lovely seeing the two of them get their HEA. Additionally, I really appreciate Lee's inclusion of Korean royal court culinary customs. Lee's humor shines and the banter and flirting are on high and will have you swooning. Oh and the OPS scenes are incredibly steamy. While there are plenty of heartfelt and humorous moments, Lee does takes on some sensitive subjects; so take care and check the CWs. A great Culinary / Royalty themed romance!

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Griffin in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

The premise for this story is a unique twist that incorporates a cross-cultural relationship and lots of engaging information about Korean culture and how those factors can impact. I enjoyed the subplot surrounding the culinary arts as well. Overall the story lacked depth which left me wishing for more. I wanted to hear how the characters unpacked the intricacies of their cultural backgrounds and what it looks like to find common ground to build a foundation. It felt like spice was thrown in to "fill in the gaps" but in the end it detracted from the storyline.

Instalove, LA setting, royal romance, meet cute & perfect on paper

Emma Yoon dreams of opening a culinary school in Los Angeles. To that end, she teaches Korean royal court cuisine to hopeful brides of upper-crust Korean families. Thanks to her godmother, a renowned matchmaker, business is booming. But when rival matchmakers plot against her godmother using Emma’s single status, she must save her godmother’s reputation and her dreams by finding a perfect-on-paper husband—even if she’s not ready for love. Meeting the gorgeous and irresistible Professor Michel Chevalier is not part of her plan.

Prince Michel Chevalier refuses to marry a woman handpicked by his elders. If he must spend the rest of his life in service to his country, he wants to do so with someone he loves by his side. With only three months left until his arranged engagement is formally announced, Michel escapes to Los Angeles to find a bride of his choosing, someone who loves him for himself rather than his crown. Serendipity leads him right to Emma Yoon, who might just be the woman of his dreams.

A great story of love conquering all with a bit of steam on the side. Emma and Michel have quite the journey they go on but it keeps you turning pages.

♡𝐀𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐨𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 &| 𝐞𝐀𝐫𝐜 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰♡
2.5 🌟
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𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬 :
•interracial romance
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The premise of this story and the cover art is what caught my attention and made me want to read this story. Emma Yoon runs a small business as a culinary instructor in Los Angeles teaching Korean royal court cuisine to young ladies striving to marry into the exclusive upper crust Korean families. Prince Michel Aubert is bound by duty and responsibility to his country, but an arranged marriage is the last thing he wants. If he is going to spend the rest of his life in service of his people, then he at least wants someone he loves and trusts by his side while doing it. I just think this book isn't my cup of tea. It wasn't keeping my attention.
The audiobook is good, but I feel like if it was a DUEL narrator, it would have made it 100% better.
𝙳𝙽𝙵 @25%
𝙽𝚘𝚝 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐
𝙱 𝚄 𝚃 𝚒𝚏 𝙸 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝚋𝚊𝚜𝚎𝚍 𝚘𝚏𝚏 𝚘𝚏 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝙸 𝚊𝚕𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚢 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚋𝚎 . . .2.5 🌟
𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 July.30
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Thank you, Netgalley, St. Martin Press for the (eArc)-eBook, and MacmillanAudio for the (ALC)-audiobook for my honest review.

Thank you so much to netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This is a romance book about a woman focused on her food career and a under cover prince looking for love.

I thought the premise was cute and I love the cover. I did enjoy the different foods incorporated and the different Korean ideas sprinkled in. I am not familiar with Korean food or culture but this book had a decent amount so I feel like I learned a bit.

However, I was not a fan of this book overall. It felt way too long for a romance and I did not like any of the characters. I didn't feel much connection between the main characters and it just felt too insta love for me.

I hope others love this one but it was not for me!

I requested to read and review this book for free from St. Martin Publishing Company. This book is filled with spice and fire! The characters in this book were sizzling in a good way. As you were reading you could feel the chemistry. Emma is a chef who loves to teach people how to cook. It's her passion and her dream is to open up her own culinary school. Michel is someone who is going to have a lot of responsibilities very soon. But he wants the right person by his side. Sophie has a job she loves but wants more, Gabriel ran away to find out who he needs and wants to be. These characters are more alike in ways they can't even imagine. But can each of these people find true love without giving everything up for it. Can you be truly be happy with love in your corner? This book is for a mature reader and can be read anywhere.

Jayce Lee has never disappointed me! This was swoon worthy!! The chemistry between our two leads was delightful. The banter was bantering. The HEA was perfect.

This book was adorable. I love a romance with royalty.

Michael and Emma are equally smitten. They have no business dating. He’s royalty of a small country taking a leave in the states. She’s supposed to be working with matchmaker grandma in finding a suitable match.

Sometimes love hits us in the most unexpected of times and this was one of those times. I really liked this book.

Thank you St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

Listen, if your book has a prince who is hiding his identity to cosplay as a normal human, I'm absolutely going to read it. It's my favorite Hallmark trope and it's just as fun in That Prince Is Mine. Also as a USC alum (#fighton) I was sold since Michel is a professor there. And a prince who's looking for a love match to save him from a functionally-arranged marriage? Yes please! Emma is super likable and its impossible not to root for her as she yearns to open up her own culinary school. Her dynamic with Michel is really compelling and I loved the whole opposites-attract of it all.

Jayci Lee always writes fun frothy (often food based) romances and this one is no different. Her books are perfect for the summer, to read by the pool or beach -- you're guaranteed to have a good time!

Overview: Emma Yoon, a culinary instructor who specializes in Korean court cuisine and wants to start her own school in LA, allows her matchmaker godmother to set her up on multiple blind dates at a local cafe. Michel Chevalier, a visiting international relations professor at USC, frequents the same cafe and can’t help but notice the beautiful woman who keeps going on dates with different men. When Michel finally takes his shot, sparks fly between him and Emma. The only problem? Michel can’t tell her that he is in fact the crown prince of a small European country called Rouleme…

Thoughts: I loved the cafe meet-cute and how awkward Michel was at the beginning DESPITE BEING A FREAKING PRINCE. Emma introducing Michel to typical American experiences was adorable. And I loved that Emma’s family was so supportive and protective of her. I will say that some of the dialogue felt a bit cliche. I didn’t love that a lot of the conflict was caused by poor communication, although I was glad that the characters quickly came to their senses. And, I was a bit irked that the sacrifices made were so one-sided for both of the main couples in the story - but it did make sense for Emma and Michel!

I was actually more intrigued by the second-chance storyline between Gabriel (Michel’s cousin) and Sophie (Michel’s royal bodyguard) - they need their own book! Finally, the true star of this book was THE FOOD! I almost sprinted to the nearest Koreatown after reading this! (Had to settle for making a mediocre kimchi tofu stew instead).

Take home message: That Prince is Mine is a delectable romcom perfect for foodies and anyone who’s ever wanted to find their own prince. Based in Los Angeles, this is a dual POV story featuring a mixed-race couple that is low on angst with medium spice (multiple open-door scenes).

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s Griffin for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

DNF at 14% I just started to get really confused with the story. Perhaps this is something I would pick up in the future but right now it's just not a fit for me.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

I soft DNF’ed this book at 30%. I will revisit it once it is out in audiobook. It’s a slow start and I am not loving the premise of the story so far. Emma wants to try to save her dream of opening a culinary school and her godmother’s matchmaking business, but she unexpectedly meets a guy who she can’t stop thinking about.

Neither Emma Yoon, a culinary instructor in Korean royal court cuisine, nor visiting professor Michel Chevalier want an arranged marriage, but it seems to be a fate both are heading towards when the have a meet cute at a cafe where Emma is meeting yet another disappointing match made by a well-meaning relative. Michel, an adjunct at USC, is hoping to meet The One before he has to go back home to his kingdom and marry a childhood friend, while Emma’s aunt, a renowned matchmaker, would like to settle her with someone advantageous to their oversees business alliances.

Emma doesn’t quite believe in love, but the chemistry with Michel is real and immediate, and as they date and get to one another, in spite of Emma’s conviction that passion fades and compatibility is supreme. She’s aware of Michel’s short tenure, but ignorant of his royal obligations back home (oh, yes — he’s a PRINCE, and maybe already promised to someone). The secrets each are trying to keep add a delicate tension to this royal romance.

Fans of culinary writing will appreciate the exquisite detail to food and cooking. The story is fairly straightforward and very sweet and very passionate. The relationships between the protagonists and secondary characters–Emma and her Appa; Emma and her Auntie Soo; Michel and his cousin Gabriel; Michel and his female bodyguard, Sophie; Sophie and Gabriel, who seem to have a yet-to-explored backstory–all make for a rich, well-rounded, carefully populated story with a cast of characters that neatly move the story along, create a sense of community and family, and promote love at any age, any stage. Lee doesn’t shy away from commentary on racism, sexism, feminism and other issues that rear their heads in both politics and academia; this is a solid, tasty snack of a read.

I received a free, advance reader’s review copy of #ThatPrinceIsMine via #NetGalley, courtesy of St. Martin’s Press.