The Royal Runaway by Kate O'Keeffe: Book Review

 **ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own. 

The Book

I’m a runaway princess. He’s a Hollywood heartthrob. What could possibly go wrong?

Being a princess means living by 1200+ rules—I've counted them all in my leather-bound journal—including Rule #124: "No climbing trees" and Rule #592: "A princess must never leave the palace without security detail." So when I swap my tiara for a goth disguise and escape the palace for a grand adventure as "Amy," I'm breaking every royal protocol imaginable.

Hiding from paparazzi in a costume shop, I meet a gorgeous American stranger who's also on the run. Suddenly I'm making disastrous coffee at a pink café, sharing a lakeside mansion with "Maverick"—aka Hollywood star Ethan Roberts in disguise—and developing feelings that make my heart perform gymnastics. Which was definitely not covered in my princess rule book.

Ethan's gotten into the habit of rescuing me—from online con artists, espresso machine explosions, and even breaking Rule #124 when I climbed a tree right to the top, … and promptly got stuck. But as our friendship blooms into something wonderfully more, our carefully constructed facades begin to crack, and our new relationship hangs in the balance.

Can a runaway princess and an actor hiding from fame find their happily-ever-after, or will duty force us back to our separate spotlight lives?

In this dizzyingly romantic modern royal romcom for grown-ups, find out what happens when a Hollywood heartthrob meets a princess who wants to break all the rules... The Royal Runaway is a closed-door romance with all the sizzle but without the spice, and a guaranteed happily ever after. It’s Book 3 in the royal romance series, Royally Kissed, and can be read as a standalone.

The Author

Kate O’Keeffe is a USA Today bestselling author known for her fun, feel-good romantic comedies brimming with humor, heart, and happily ever afters. A native of New Zealand, Kate has crafted numerous popular series, garnering a devoted international readership.

With a flair for witty banter and irresistible heroines navigating the ups and downs of modern dating, Kate’s novels showcase strong friendships, comedic entanglements, and the of course sometimes bumpy but always hopeful road to love.

When she’s not writing, Kate can often be found reading romcoms, binging her favourite shows, or spending time with her friends and family in the beautiful Hawke’s Bay region of New Zealand.

Book Review

The Royal Runaway is the third book in the Royally Kissed series. While you might have a better understanding of the royal family dynamics if you've read the previous books, I do think this could be enjoyed as a standalone as well. 

Oh my goodness, this book! I have enjoyed every Kate O'Keeffe book that I have read and while I didn't think any could top the last book in this series... this one absolutely did! First of all, what a meet cute! This whole opening gave me all the Aladdin vibes... what with a princess 'escaping' the palace and all! It drew me into their story right away and I absolutely couldn't put it down from there. Ethan and Amelia had such an amazing chemistry and such a genuine affection for each other, regardless of titles. They may have come from very different worlds- her being a princess who has never worked a day in her life and him a Hollywood actor with a modest beginning, but I loved how they connected over needing to get away from their everyday lives for a bit. Her lack of experience made for some really funny moments and made her even more lovable. This story may have drawn me in right from the start, but it was the twist that I didn't expect that really took it to the next level. I can't give anything away, but trust me, this is absolutely one that you're going to want to experience for yourself! I absolutely LOVED it! 

The Royal Runaway is a closed-door romance with kisses only. 


You can purchase your copy here: https://amzn.to/4cBV2DJ