Barbara McMahon; art by Reiko Kishida, Prince Needs a Princess

Prince Needs a Princess

Barbara McMahon; art by Reiko Kishida

Harlequin Pink, Sep 2006, $7.99

ISBN: 0373180020

King Gilliam III of Marik sends his loyal subject Clarissa Dubonet to bring home the heir to the kingdom, American Jack Brown. To her shock Jack refuses to meet his royal grandfather and rejects the crown. He explains that his grandfather disowned his father when he came from the small Pyrenees Kingdom to America where he died. She says he is the only hope to continue the centuries old line as his cousin and uncle died in a motorboat accident. When he learns his cousin was her fianc , Jack insults her by saying she just wants to use him to enable her to become queen. He feels bad about his comment and agrees to visit the kingdom to tell his grandpa no thanks.

In Marik, Jack begins to see that the country needs economic development to help the people. He and Clarissa fall in love, but she refuses to leave her home and he wants nothing to do with his estranged grandfather. It appears there is no chance that Jack and his grandfather can find a way to end their estrangement or Jack and Clarissa can find a way to allow love to blossom.

This is a cute tale that targets twelve to thirteen years old girls as Manga art is combined with a fun wholesome romance with the subtle message to respect all people regardless of one's lot in life. The art and text of this graphic book is excellent though readers will have to adjust to the right to left storyline even with an instruction page included. As with No Competition and Jinxed, a paradigm is needed to accept manga in romance instead of the usual fantasy; those who do will enjoy this fun somewhat too simplistic well written and well drawn tale.

Harriet Klausner