The Reluctant Prince
Dani-Lyn Alexander
Release Date: November 3, 2014
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Fantasy

Betrayal lies cloaked in shadow.

Seventeen year old Ryleigh Donnovan is certain her life is cursed. Nothing ever goes smoothly, and her first job interview is no exception. An earthquake rocks the building, sending Ryleigh on a frantic search for her younger sister, a search which lands her in the hospital. Terrified they’ll push her for answers she can’t afford to give, Ryleigh flees with a mysterious stranger.

Jackson Maynard is about to be ordained as a Death Dealer, a warrior for the Kingdom of Cymmera, but first he must pass one more test. When he fails to acquire the human girlthe prophet has chosen, he’s forced to stand trial for treason. Banished from his realm, he seeks out the girl from the vision, Ryleigh Donnovan, and together they embark on a journey to save his dying kingdom.

Advance Praise for Reluctant Prince

“A gorgeously wrought fantasy realm with a heroine who will make you cheer!”

~Wendy Higgins, NYT and USA Today bestselling author of the Sweet Evil trilogy.

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The Reluctant Prince was a short and sweet YA fantasy story that I greatly enjoyed. When we first begin, we see Ryleigh and her sister Mia trying to figure out what to do in life and how to make ends meet after the death of their grandmother. Ryleigh is 17 and is trying to care for her sister, keeping them off the radar of child services so they can make it together till she is 18, old enough to be her sister’s legal guardian. When Ryleigh goes to an interview in hopes of finding a job to support them both, an earthquake strikes and chaos ensues. In a perilous attempt to reach her sister Mia, Ryleigh is injured and has her first glimpse of Jackson, the Death Dealer and Prince of Cymmera. This glimpse starts a chain reaction that Ryleigh and Mia could never have imagined. Jackson was sent to collect Ryleigh and take her into Cymmera, hoping that she would be the savior of their land, yet he cannot end her life, sensing a connection with her that confuses his heart and duty. It is because of this connection and hesitation that Jackson is exiled from his home land and sent to our world in order to find out what is going on. He is determined to find out more about this mysterious girl and plan an argument for his impending trial in hopes of saving his life and returning home. Little does he know that the connection will only go stronger and Ryleigh is not an ordinary human. They are on the run for their lives and must band together to save themselves and the kingdom of Cymmera.

This book began quickly, and as the reader, you hit the ground running. The story starts and it doesn’t let up until the last page. It was a well paced fantasy story, filled with new worlds and concepts that were intriguing.  The relationship between Ryleigh and Mia was perfect. The connection between these sisters, two girls who have lost so much and cling to each other, was deep, powerful, and loving. The lengths that they go to in order to protect one another was a theme that I loved reading about. Having a little sister, I would do anything to provide for her and protect her. That relationship was authentic and genuine in a loving and powerful way. Ryleigh is such a strong heroine, standing for what is right and protecting those she loves.

The primary focus of this story is the quest to save Cymmera. While there are other themes within the story line, you see that it is the main objective and well played out. The appearance of Ryleigh and Mia brings speculation and hope to a world that is slowly dying. The emotions displayed by the secondary characters were well written. The budding romance between Ryleigh and Jackson was sweet and slow. Nothing was rushed. Their connection is obvious, and as they are thrown together to survive and find hope for the people of Cymmera, we see something growing that has great potential to be a loving and epic romance.

This story was a bit shorter than I anticipated but I feel like Dani-Lyn made ever word count. It was fast paced and direct. I enjoyed this YA fantasy novel. It was a refreshing break from the genres I have been reading and I hope to see more! This book ends with some unresolved issues so I am guessing that it will be part of a series! I am excited to see what more happens with Jackson, Ryleigh, Mia and the gang in Cymmera.

There is a giveaway happening in celebration of the release and blog tour of The Reluctant Prince. How can you try for a chance to win? Enter this RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY for your chance to receive a $25 Amazon giftcard or one of 2 $10 giftcards. Good luck!

Dani-Lyn Alexander lives on Long Island with her husband, three kids and three dogs. She loves spending time with her family, at the beach, the playground, or just about anywhere. In her spare time, which is rare, she enjoys reading and shopping—especially in book stores. Some of her favorite things include; Bernese Mountain Dogs, musicals, bubble baths and soft blankets. She’s an incurable insomniac and has an addiction to chocolate.

For more about Dani-Lyn, check out her social media sites listed below!

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