Hi there!
Welcome to another week here at Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.
Today, we're playing host to a TLC Blog Tour starring the 11th addition to a popular Young Adult series that is now making its way into the Fiction/Contemporary Romance arena. That's right! Get ready to practice your curtsies and your royal wave, The Princess Diaries series is jumping genres but in such a way that those not quite caught up in the age category as of yet can still follow along. Ready, set, GO! Today's book of choice is...
(A Princess Diaries Novel, #11)
by
Meg Cabot
9780062379078
William Morrow Paperbacks
About the book...
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Princess Diaries series comes the very first adult installment, which follows Princess Mia and her prince charming as they plan their fairy-tale wedding—though a few poisoned apples could turn this happily-ever-after into a royal nightmare.
For Princess Mia, the past five years since college graduation have been a whirlwind of activity: living in New York City, running her new teen community center, being madly in love, and attending royal engagements. And speaking of engagements. Mia's gorgeous longtime boyfriend, Michael, managed to clear both their schedules just long enough for an exotic (and very private) Caribbean island interlude where he popped the question! Of course, Mia didn't need to consult her diary to know that her answer was a royal oui.
But now Mia has a scandal of majestic proportions to contend with: her grandmother has leaked "fake" wedding plans to the press that could cause even normally calm Michael to become a runaway groom. Worse, a scheming politico is trying to force Mia's father from the throne, all because of a royal secret that could leave Genovia without a monarch. Can Mia prove to everyone—especially herself—that she's not only ready to wed, but ready to rule as well?
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Whether you're a fan of the book series (admittedly have not read them) or a watcher of the films (guilty as charged), you won't be disappointed.
With easy to recognize characters from Michael (remember...the foot pop kiss?) and Lily (the lawyer in the making whom never found a cause too small) to Lana (former enemy, now frenemy) and Fat Louie (yes, I did list these two together...what? She needed a little class shown to her and Louie has it in spades!), there's nary a moment where you're wondering now wait, who was that again. You're well informed and taken care of like a genuine member of the royal family...at least as long as that family lasts. *ahem* Let's just say there is some MAJOR upheaval about to happen and from several angles all at once. Moving on...
The story itself is light and fluffy but the addition of paparazzi, family scandals, and a life altering vacation, gives you something you can run with; after all, it's not every day that you find out your prince of a father has...and is in love with...and is leaving the...well, you'll have to read it to fill in the dots but trust me when I say that the father daughter relationship here is about to hit some high seas. Surrounding the main story are glimpses into what the Princess and her beau have been up to...starting a multi-million dollar company, setting up a safe place for kids needing a hand up, and helping to establish the voice of the people in the land one of them at least shall be calling home. Yes, it's never a dull day and the presses absurd headlines are only half the story...
Princess Mia is her usual charming self (and by charming I mean still our favorite headstrong awkward girl just trying to make her way through the crazy world as it is while making her mark) though her grandmother is far more stand-offish than I remember. (Really, Julie Andrews she's not!) The combination of the two personalities creates some fairly decent fireworks especially with all the scandal running about but they stay below the line of international affairs...leave that lot to the lovebirds (Michael and Mia sitting on a beach, K-I-S-S-I-N-G) ^-^. Just kidding! They are on their best behavior...outside the bedroom as least. Now before you go getting your glasses steamed up, let me reassure you...there is allusion to and some friendly flirting, but no crass language, blush-worthy scenes, or detailed clothing-optional times. In a word, it's CLEAN which while refreshing and making it accessible to the elder lot of her teen readers, may prove its undoing for those adults not already enamored with the Genovian world. But I digress...
Overall, it was an enjoyable read with several surprises along the way that I know I didn't see coming. While it is told in journal style, it still keeps you up to date without the story feeling like you're constantly in a flashback sequence. I admit, I was expecting more in a way (I think with the transition from YA, I was searching for a heavier plot) but I wasn't disappointed either. There's plenty left to build on for future installments with or without the crown (dun dun dunnn...) and I look forward to what the next chapter might bring.
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About the author....
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| Photo by Ali Smith |
Meg Cabot was born in Bloomington, Indiana. In addition to her award-winning adult contemporary fiction, she is the author of bestselling young adult fiction, including The Princess Diaries and the Mediator series. More than twenty-five million copies of her novels for children and adults have sold worldwide. Meg lives in Key West, Florida, with her husband.
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Special thanks to Trish at TLC Book Tours for the ARC for review as well as the chance to bring this title to your attention. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the entire series, the rest of the stops on the tour, the author, the publisher, or future promotions, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title just celebrated its book birthday the beginning of this month via William Morrow Paperbacks, an imprint of HarperCollins, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing.
Until next time...happy reading!
Alas a bit put off by the journal format but otherwise this sounds like a great read.
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen the movies or read the series, but I've got the series on my wishlist because it just sounds so FUN! I need series' like this that I can count on to be great so I have something to fall back on when I'm in a funk.
ReplyDeleteThanks for being on the tour!