The Runaway Princess - Hester Browne (2012)

Amy Wilde fits in best with the flowers and plants that she works so hard to grow and nurture. She loves her job as a gardener and sharing a flat with her friend, Jo, even though Jo is always pestering her to find a boyfriend. So when Amy unexpectedly meets Leo at a party, she realises that she properly likes him and wants to see more of him. Unfortunately, before she can ask for his number he's gone. Plus, he's so drop dead gorgeous that she figures she'll never see him again. However, to her surprise, he shows up on her doorstep one day asking her to help him with his garden. Amy's not sure if it's a date or just a business proposal, but either way she can't believe her luck. From then on, she and Leo begin a courtship full of tender romance that blossoms with each meeting. Yet, the fact that Leo is always taking her to posh members-only clubs and hanging around with the horrendous (and very rich) Rolf, make Amy wonder if their relationship can work. After all, she's just a gardener and Leo is a high-powered banker with ultra-rich friends. Or is he? As Amy soon finds out, Leo is more than what he seems. He's not just a banker, he's also the Prince of Nirona and one of the world's most eligible bachelors. He dates models and socialites, takes luxe vacations and parties with the elite. All things Amy's never been privy to. Now that she knows Leo's real background, can she make their relationship work or will the pressure of possibly becoming a princess and being thrust into the spotlight be too much for this simple gardener? With a cast of extremely appealing characters - one being the delicious Leo - this is a novel you won't want to put down. With all the interest in Will and Kate's life, it's fun to read about Amy and Leo, who in some ways emulate what people think Will and Kate are like. Leo is relentlessly charming and will make you want to figure out where you can find this lovely place called Nirona and move there just to be closer to him. A definite must-read. (AS)

The Runaway Princess, by Hester Browne, is about a girl who embarks on a whirlwind romance with a mysterious man - only to discover that he's a prince. The synopsis says: "As a high-rise gardener in London, Amy Wilde can make roses and salad leaves spring out of nowhere. But it's love that blossoms when the normally withdrawn Londoner meets Leo at one of the parties thrown by her socialite friend. Tall, blond, and startlingly handsome, Leo is incredibly easygoing, as if he's been brought up to make small talk with complete strangers. In fact, he was and after a delightfully romantic date, he admits that his real name is Leopold - Prince Leopold III of Nirona, a wealthy European principality. After the two become engaged, a scandal makes Leo the heir to his nation's throne and his mood abruptly changes. As the extravagant wedding plans consume the little country, Amy feels increasingly apprehensive and unsure of whether she's the girl Leo thinks she is - especially with a scandal brewing within her own family. But can she run away from her true love - and the glitter of royalty - and return to life as a commoner?" The Runaway Princess is out in October.

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