The Duchess Effect

May 15, 2023
The continuing adventures of an American rapper's romance with an English prince. Danielle "Duchess" Nelson and Prince Jameson, grandson to the queen of England, had a whirlwind romance in the first book of the series, American Royalty (2022). This second novel is a contemporary romance rarity: a full-on sequel that features the same characters, not starting from a cliffhanger or breakup but instead picking up from the previous book's happily-ever-after. The plot focuses on Dani and Jameson's new relationship. Given that they are both global celebrities, they make a pledge to keep their relationship separate from their jobs and professional duties. The plot shows them facing a series of difficulties, many of them carried over from the first book and summarized with a fair amount of exposition. Jameson's family is pressuring him to stay in his public role in the hopes of distracting the press from his uncle's latest scandal. His grandmother resorts to blackmail to ensure Jameson remains a working member of the royal family even though he hates catering to the voracious British tabloids. The shady businessman acquiring Dani's skin-care company now insists that Jameson's presence is part of the deal, hoping to keep riding the wave of free publicity. The book relies heavily on guilt, secrets, and miscommunication to cause strife between the lovers. Dani knows it's wrong to keep the details about her deal a secret from Jameson, especially since he's so sensitive to being in the public eye. Readers will be frustrated and mystified as to why the confident, assured woman from the first book acts so out of character. An unusual romance novel that tells the story after the happily-ever-after fails to deliver.

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May 22, 2023
Hip-hop star turned beauty mogul Danielle “Duchess” Nelson and Prince Jameson Lloyd of England navigate dating in the public eye in Livesay’s sizzling sequel to American Royalty. Duchess and Jameson aim to keep their relationship out of the spotlight as much as possible, but outside pressure jeopardizes their plan. Unbeknownst to Jameson, the investors in Duchess’s new makeup line insist she use her relationship with the prince to market the product. Meanwhile, the queen demands Jameson and Duchess attend royal family events, hoping the positive publicity surrounding their love will help gloss over the dynasty’s latest scandal. Livesay again gets a lot of mileage out of American and British culture clash, with Duchess’s modern behavior putting her at odds with the uptight royals. It’s only after Duchess starts to conform—even allowing the royal stylist to dress her—that Jameson becomes suspicious of her willingness to go along with his family. Will communication issues and contrasting goals tear the couple apart? Jameson’s devotion to Duchess is as swoonworthy as ever, though some readers will be disappointed that it isn’t fully reciprocated by the more aloof heroine. Still, it’s a joy to revisit this royally cute couple. Agent: Nalini Akolekar, Spencerhill Assoc.

May 19, 2023

This sequel picks up shortly after the conclusion of American Royalty. American rapper Dani, whose stage name, Duchess, unexpectedly led to her newfound love with Britain's Prince Jameson, is excited to finalize the deal that will take her skincare company to the next level. However, Jameson and Dani's pairing has unforeseen consequences on their professional lives, leaving them vulnerable in ways they never imagined. When the queen, the UK's monarch first and Jameson's grandmother second, decides to use Jameson and Dani's popularity to distract from her heir's scandals, the couple will have to work hard to protect the life they're building. While their backgrounds are extremely different, their painful pasts remain central to their present-day decision making, leading to secrets and conflict. These factors, plus interference from familiar antagonists and fickle media on both sides of the Atlantic, make Dani and Jameson's path even more fraught. VERDICT Sexy and insightful, this title should be popular with fans of multicultural, interracial, and royal, and romance novels.--Nicole Williams

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