The Royal Runaway

He’s hiding from Hollywood. She’s hiding from the palace. But the way he looks at her? Totally worth breaking the royal rulebook for.

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?

The Princess Diaries meets Notting Hill in a laugh-out-loud modern royal romcom for grown-ups about what happens when a runaway royal crashes into Hollywood’s hottest star—both in disguise. 

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 totally can be read as a standalone.

Readers’ Favorite Book Awards Medal Winner 2025

Swoony Awards Medal Winner 2025

 

There are 2 options for the print book – one with facial features and one without. Click on the relevant image and you’ll be taken to Amazon’s site to purchase.

Below are some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about The Royal Runaway:

Who is Princess Amelia and what is her role in Ledonia?

• • Princess Amelia is the third-born child of King Frederic and Queen Astrid of Ledonia from the House of Canossa.
  • She is known for being vivacious, never-stops-talking, and full of the joys of life, a “tomboy” who once challenged diplomats to a tree-climbing contest.
  • Amelia is the sister of Prince Alexander (who married Princess Madeline of Malveaux) and Princess Sofia (who is the heir to the Ledonian throne and married Marco Rivera).
  • Her role in life is largely defined by numerous “unflinching rules” (she has at least 1,250 recorded in her journal) that dictate every aspect of her life, from clothing to public interactions. She enjoys breaking these rules.
  • She does not expect to be a queen and feels her purpose is to “look regal and not a lot else”.

 

Who is Ethan Roberts, and why is he in Malveaux?

• • Ethan Roberts is the lead actor in the “smash hit Netflix show, It Came One Winter,” where he plays the character Rowan Thornheart.
  • He came to Malveaux on a vacation to escape the pressures of fame and the superficiality of Hollywood. He felt his genuine interactions were “hollowed out” by his celebrity status.
  • To maintain anonymity, he uses the alias “Maverick Mitchell”. He initially believes he randomly selected Malveaux for his retreat.

 

What is Princess Amelia’s escape plan and what is its purpose?

• • Princess Amelia devises a plan to fake her attendance at a month-long silent meditation retreat in India with her cousin, Stefania. She believes this is a “perfect cover”.
  • Her true purpose is to escape her “royal prison,” “experience life,” and find love with “the man of her dreams”. She specifically planned to meet Greg Smith, a man she had been communicating with online.

 

What is Princess Amelia’s general disposition and what does she think of her royal duties?

• • Princess Amelia is known for being vivacious, never-stops-talking, and full of the joys of life. She is described as a “tomboy” who once challenged three diplomats to a tree-climbing contest during a state dinner, much to her parents’ horror.
  • She lives her life by a catalog of “unflinching rules”, at least 1,250 of them recorded in her leather-bound journal. While she understands the privileges of being a princess, she finds the expectations “a bit of a sticking point”.
  • Amelia eagerly looks forward to breaking each and every one of these rules, viewing it as a “personal revolution” to defy the constant spotlight and strictures of her life.
  • She does not expect to be a queen and feels her purpose is largely to “look regal and not a lot else”. She yearns for an “authentic” life.

 

Can you give examples of specific royal rules Princess Amelia dislikes or plans to break?

• • Beyond faking attendance at a silent meditation retreat (Rule number 1,247), she dislikes Rule number 124: No climbing trees, a rule she becomes giddy about breaking.
  • She also objects to Rule number 657: No wearing jeans to official events and Rule number 908: Never wear orange fingernail polish covered in little spiders.
  • Amelia also disobeys Rule number 1,246: Don’t snort laugh and then slap your thigh when talking with a member of the public and Rule number 1,248: No high-fiving rugby players in public.
  • She even finds amusement in breaking Rule number 1,249: A princess must never, ever feel giddy about breaking the rules.

 

How do Princess Amelia’s siblings, Prince Alexander, Princess Sofia, and Prince Maximilien, fit into the royal family dynamic?

• • Princess Amelia is the third-born child of King Frederic and Queen Astrid.
  • Her older brother, Prince Alexander, previously known as “Europe’s most eligible bachelor,” married Princess Madeline of Malveaux.
  • Her older sister, Princess Sofia, is described as someone for whom rules come naturally; she “swallowed the rulebook as a baby”. Sofia is the heir to the Ledonian throne and married Marco Rivera.
  • Her younger brother, Prince Maximilien (Max), is training with the Royal Ledonian Air Force. Amelia feels she can tell Max “everything”, and they share a special handshake from childhood. The family as a whole is described as competitive.

 

What is Ethan Roberts’ career, and what are his feelings about fame and Hollywood life?

• • Ethan Roberts is the lead actor in the “smash hit Netflix show, It Came One Winter,” where he plays the character Rowan Thornheart. The show is popular and even rivals Bridgerton in ratings.
  • Despite his success, Ethan dislikes the superficiality of awards nights and public appearances, including the posing and frivolous questions. He feels that fame has “hollowed out” his genuine interactions and turned him into a “commodity”.
  • He views acting as his “passion” and “reason for being”, but he feels the constant demand to “be on show” is a significant negative aspect of his career.
  • He grew up in a small town called Maple Falls, Washington state, and longs for a simpler life away from the Hollywood circus.

 

Who is Fabiana Fontaine, and what is her role in the world of Ledonian royalty?

• • Fabiana Fontaine is the “ever devoted royal correspondent” who covers news and gossip about the Ledonian royal family.
  • She is known for her persistent investigations and has a talent for being “hot on her tail” of royal stories.
  • She has previously dubbed Princess Amelia “Princess Aimless” for a social gaffe.
  • Fabiana’s commentary in her columns often highlights her skepticism about official palace statements and her determination to uncover the “truth” behind royal events.

 

What is the significance of the “Lac des Rêves” (Lake of Dreams) in the story’s setting?

• • Montelac, the small town where much of the story unfolds, is located on the “Lac des Rêves,” which literally means “lake of dreams”.
  • The lake and its surroundings are described as picturesque and beautiful, with pastel-painted houses and flower-filled streets.
  • The lake is home to bioluminescent organisms that cause the water and sand to glow when disturbed, creating a magical effect, especially when footsteps are seen glowing.
  • The town also hosts an annual “Festival of Lake Lights,” where hundreds of lanterns float on the water. It’s presented as a small, sleepy place, largely “off the tourist map”.