Apple Pie by Loretta Marchize

Book Blurb:

Crown Prince Andrew is tired. Tired of his role as Prince, tired of not having any choices, and tired of the pressure to marry. His father is ill, and Andrew knows he’ll be taking over the throne before too long. But economic failure is on the tongues of every person in Whittenberg and Earl Barton is leading parliament in circles trying to solve the problem.
Claiy Bowen came from America a year ago but still hasn’t found a job as a pastry chef. Andrew is easy to be around, but she thinks he’s selfish and denies any chance of a relationship between them. It doesn’t help that his mother is set on him marrying Lady Growbeth, not some foreigner.
Can Andrew learn to accept his fate as Crown Prince, and can Claiy learn to accept Andrew?

I received a copy of this book from the author for the purpose of this review. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

Review:

One of the few plot lines that I will immediately say yes to is modern day royalty. Movies, books, you name it, no matter how cliche or predictable the ending might be. I also knew this book would be good when her preface started with, “I wrote the first draft of this tiny novel in about one week in the middle of a three-week out-west car trip with my parents and two siblings. My pillow served as a desk, my sister as a brainstorm, and my mother as a spell checker. (My dad drove and my brother was just annoying.)” I feel like Loretta and I would get along splendidly.

All of that being said, this book was just what I was hoping for. A handsome prince, a sassy American, and some delicious pastries. If I’m quite honest, though, Prince Andrew’s sister (Lottie) and advisor (James) were my favorites. There was just a level of sass with them that made me burst out laughing several times throughout this book.

My one complaint about this book is that it felt too short. I say that about most of the books I enjoy, but I really feel like the plot would have benefitted from being fleshed out a bit more. I would have especially loved to see more casual interactions between Andrew and Claiy. Beyond this, there was just a little bit of dialogue that could have been smoother, and some typos here and there. Loretta mentions how this book was written quickly (in the preface and in the acknowledgements), and so I am sure that this is the reason behind my complaints. If there had just been one more set of eyes going over it, though, I think it would have been perfect.

Overall, reading this book was a fun break from this week’s homework.