The Cost of the Crown by Joy Crain

The Cost of the Crown by Joy Crain
Series: Book 1 of 2 of The Royals of Andelar
Publisher: White Crown (September 26, 2023)

Review by Mae Clair

Missy Hanson has been alienated from her father since he left to assume the role of American Ambassador to the small island kingdom of Andelar after her mother’s death when she was sixteen. Missy has lived with her Aunt Pru, straddling the gulf between her Asian heritage (on her mother’s side) and her American father, never quite comfortable in her own skin. Years later, her father, William, invites her to spend the summer with him in Andelar as a guest of the royal family. Enroute, she crosses paths with Aiden Waverly, a beguiling young man she meets on the plane. Their paths continue to cross, and the two form a bond that gradually morphs from friendship to romantic interest.

Unknown to Missy, Aiden is secretly the Crown Prince of Andelar, a title and identity he has successfully hidden from his people while abroad. With a western appearance (his mother was American), a down-to-earth attitude, and casual manner of dress, he’s nothing like the prince he’s expected to be. Part of this novel is the fun of anticipating the “reveal” that’s coming when Missy discovers the truth.

I found the story utterly enchanting, with hints of fairy-tales touches (a charity ball and masquerade ball), but mostly fell in love with the characters. Both Missy and Aiden have hurdles to overcome in relationships each has with their fathers and buried hurt from their pasts—particularly Aiden from his childhood when he and his mother were homeless. He’s passionate about helping orphaned children, especially in his own country, but encounters royal red tape.

As much as I enjoyed watching the gradual romance develop between Aiden and Missy, I also loved seeing the change in William and King Myron (Aiden’s father). Supporting characters—from Aiden’s stepmother to step-siblings and others, are superb. I can readily see at least one romantic pairing waiting in the wings for volume two.

The book reads smoothly with breezy writing and plays like a Hallmark movie. The characters come off feeling a bit YA rather than their actual ages on occasion, but the lightness of the story makes such glitches easy to overlook. Faith elements are more in the background rather than front and center, but the integrity of the two MCs strongly reflect Christian elements. There are several passages which are straightforward, such as his exchange between Aiden and Missy:

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“How do you forgive like that? I don’t understand.” Aiden gently pushed her hand down to rest at her sides then pointed to the wooden cross. “What do you see?”

“A cross.”

“Besides the cross. What I see is the cruelty that Jesus suffered at the hands of the Romans who nailed Him there. Far worse than what I’ve ever experienced. And do you remember what He said while He was nailed there?”

“It is finished.”

“Before that. He said, ‘Forgive them, Father, for they do not know what they have done.’”

The Cost of the Crown by Joy Crain

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This is a heartwarming read about family, duty, and staying true to character. There’s also forgiveness, acceptance, change of heart, and a light thread of romance. I found it a delightful read worthy of five lovely fishes.

I was provided an epub copy of The Cost of the Crown by the author and have provided an honest review.