What If Series, Book #1
Romance Comedy / British satire
Clean and Wholesome
Release Date: May 8, 2018
Publisher: Pink Ink Press
Small-town girl, Katie O’Connor has always dreamed of seeing her name in lights. Check the box for fame, a movie deal, the perfect leading role that comes with a gorgeous leading man! Katie moved to Hollywood, elbows her way into auditions, lives on a shoestring budget—whatever is required to land a deal, she throws her heart into… until she’s involved in a royal kidnapping.
As the future king, Prince Alexander refuses to rule from an ivory tower. Duty-bound, he intends to relate to his future subjects, regardless of their walk of life. Before his coronation, he needs a foolproof plan to outrun his security team and go temporarily AWOL. While visiting L.A., all it takes is a sound stage collision and Alex is blindsided by a headstrong woman who is simply irresistible. So much so, he calls in a favor in order to secure her help … as his pretend girlfriend.
Their worlds are oceans apart, but their immediate attraction is impossible to put aside, especially their nonstop banter. Miffed at being wrangled into a situation that might blow up in her face, Katie comes up with her own plan. If The Prince is serious about walking the walk of the common folk, she’s only too happy to oblige as his pretend girlfriend. Through an ice storm, a road trip, kitchen duty, and a Texas pig race, Alex captures the hearts of the locals as well as Ms. O’Connor’s.
What starts out as a deal Katie can’t refuse becomes the acting role of a lifetime… letting Prince Alexander go without a fight.
A delightfully funny retelling of The Prince and The Pauper that romance readers of all ages will enjoy. On a two-week 1,500-mile road trip, Katie and Alex discover the end of the road might just be the beginning of their ‘Happy Ever After’ together.
About the Author
Southern gal at heart. Alina is a librarian who adores her job. She has a degree in anthropology from Vanderbilt and loves writing offbeat romance comedy. To refuel, Alina sings karaoke, bakes sweet treats, and can be found at the Y, kickboxing. She lives in Knoxville with her husband and Callie, their doxie mix.
Purchase Link
.
Read an Excerpt
Before Katie bolted down her emotions, Alex captured her hand. She didn’t try to pull away. “What are you afraid of?” he gritted out.
Katie regarded him from the shadowed side of the cab. Her eyes sparkled and color stained her cheeks. Not about to let this moment go, he hit the brakes and swung the truck onto the berm. Seconds ticked by and he pursued an answer. “Well?”
She tightened her hold on his hand as if she couldn’t bear to let go. But he wasn’t a mind reader. Alex hungered to tell her his thoughts or rather how they were changing, only he didn’t have the words to match these newfound feelings.
“Alex,” she murmured, entwining their fingers. “I don’t know what to say.”
Nor did he. They’d become closer but what did it mean? To rush their relationship could very well tear it apart. Like so many things in life, to proceed forward in a new direction required careful planning. Rushing headlong in unchartered waters was something he would’ve done years ago. But for once in Alex’s life, the risk was too great if it meant losing this woman’s respect.
This was indeed new territory. He squeezed Katie’s hand. The first stoplight of the town was a hundred meters ahead. If she was agreeable, he wanted to visit the spot that had prompted this adventure. Maybe she needed reminding that this trip wasn’t just about him finding something essential. She was part and parcel of this journey.
A trip, like any trip, would change them both, and he gave her a rueful grin. “I hear it’s karaoke night at Woody’s. You up for a song?”
Katie regarded him from the shadowed side of the cab. Her eyes sparkled and color stained her cheeks. Not about to let this moment go, he hit the brakes and swung the truck onto the berm. Seconds ticked by and he pursued an answer. “Well?”
She tightened her hold on his hand as if she couldn’t bear to let go. But he wasn’t a mind reader. Alex hungered to tell her his thoughts or rather how they were changing, only he didn’t have the words to match these newfound feelings.
“Alex,” she murmured, entwining their fingers. “I don’t know what to say.”
Nor did he. They’d become closer but what did it mean? To rush their relationship could very well tear it apart. Like so many things in life, to proceed forward in a new direction required careful planning. Rushing headlong in unchartered waters was something he would’ve done years ago. But for once in Alex’s life, the risk was too great if it meant losing this woman’s respect.
This was indeed new territory. He squeezed Katie’s hand. The first stoplight of the town was a hundred meters ahead. If she was agreeable, he wanted to visit the spot that had prompted this adventure. Maybe she needed reminding that this trip wasn’t just about him finding something essential. She was part and parcel of this journey.
A trip, like any trip, would change them both, and he gave her a rueful grin. “I hear it’s karaoke night at Woody’s. You up for a song?”
