Title: The Royal Treatment (Alaskan Royal Family #!)

Author: MaryJanice Davidson

Publisher: Brava (Kensington Publishing Corp.) 2004

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Pages: 268

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Contemporary Romance; Support Your Local Library; A to Z Authors: D

In a world nearly identical to ours, the North won the Civil War, Ben Affleck is the sexiest man alive, and Russia never sold Alaska to the U.S. Instead, Alaska is a rough, beautiful country ruled by a famously eccentric royal family, and urgently in need of a bride for the Crown Prince. But they have no idea what they're in for when they offer the job to a feisty commoner...a girl who's going to need...

The Royal TreatmentThe Princess-To-Be Primer,

Or, Things I've Learned Really Quick, As Compiled by Her Future Royal Highness--Yeah, Whatever--Christina. That's me.

1. Telling jokes you picked up from the guys on the fishing boat doesn't go over really well at a fancy ball.

2. Must learn to curtsy, stifle burps, and tell the difference between a salad fork and a fruit knife.

3. Must not keep thinking about Prince David's amazing eyes, lips, hands, shoulders, uh...wait, can I start over?

4. Becoming a princess is a lot harder than it looks.

5. Falling in love is a whole lot easier...

I've not read much contemporary romance that didn't have an paranormal aspect to it, so this is definitely new to me.  If the rest are like this book, I am going to love the genre!

I found the characters likable and real.  Each had faults, but that made them more likable.  There's nothing worse than a character who's seemingly perfect.  How is the reader supposed to connect with someone who doesn't have any problems?  They can't and it usually makes the book boring.  Davidson allows her characters (even the love interests) to be interesting.  And because of that interestingness (I know not a word, but I like it) the reader connects to them.

The story itself is fun: an adventure in romance and royalty.  The universe Davidson created does differ from our own in that Alaska is a separate country ruled by a royal family.  But that's more of a plot device instaed of an aspect of fantasy.  The plot is classic: lost girl, seemingly stuffy guy, meddling family, aspects of danger, and a romance all thrown into one.

I really like this book and saw that Davidson made a trilogy all set in this slightly alternative universe.  I picked up the other two books: The Royal Pain and The Royal Kiss and plan on reading them next!  Then I think it's time to move to real fantasy or science fiction or maybe even zombies for a change of pace.

Alaskan Royal Family

1. The Royal Treatment
2. The Royal Pain
3. The Royal Mess