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Royal House of Saene #1

His Defiant Princess

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Princess Amira Saene has always done the right thing when it came to her beloved Kingdom of Bagumi. Yet her unorthodox online relationship with a man across the sea has derailed her from cultural norms. After a year of communicating, the man she’s developed feelings for comes to visit.

Jake Pettersen never thought he’d meet the woman of his dreams, much less online. Flying thousands of miles to West Africa to meet her verifies that the feelings he’s developed are real. Too bad her family doesn’t think he’s worthy of her.

When Jake learns that Amira has been betrothed, he must decide whether to fight for her or accept the loss for the sake of her homeland. Is their happiness worth the devastation of her country?

143 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 14, 2018

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About the author

Nana Prah

23 books272 followers
Nana Prah first discovered romance in a book from her eighth-grade summer reading list and has been obsessed with it ever since. Her fascination with love inspired her to write in her favorite genre where happily-ever-after is the rule.

She is a published author of contemporary, multicultural romances. Her books are sweet with a touch of spice. When she’s not writing she’s reading, over-indulging in chocolate, and enjoying life with friends and family.

Nana loves to connect with her readers on Instagram @nanaprahauthor, Twitter @Nana Prah and Facebook at Nana Prah, author.

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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
Profile Image for K.J. Charles.
Author 63 books9,692 followers
Read
July 22, 2019
A royalty/commoner romance where the usual "he's hiding his title" is flipped: she's a princess, he's a dentist, and she's been having an online relationship for a year without mentioning her title. This was an interesting read with a hero very much out of his depth (but still attempting to be strong and protective bc romance). Particularly interesting intersections between the countries: there is a jawdropping sequence where the hero assumes that the heroine will just give up being an actual African princess in order to live with him as an American dentist's wife in some suburban American picket-fence world and...what? Mate. (The heroine reacts with equal WTF, and the hero does realise what an arsehole he's being.)

Lots of good stuff in here but overall didn't quite come together for me, in that if the author had gone bigger on a lot of the elements she introduces it might have worked better--the unacknowledged and unrecognised attitudes of US cultural arrogance and white entitlement Jake obviously has and is startled when they aren't mirrored by the actual African royalty he encounters, also what his sidekick is doing there (there was a subplot that didn't happen that I was really waiting for). I felt it would have made a brilliant romcom at about twice the length with more space to develop and less need to play up to the alpha hero romance tropes. Then again, I am not particularly big on either royalty or alpha heroes. Those who are will find plenty to love, as well as a fabulous fictional kingdom to enjoy.

Not perfect, but what is, and how often do we get African royalty romance
Profile Image for Felicia.
Author 5 books102 followers
December 17, 2018
After traveling five-thousand miles from Vermont to West Africa to meet the woman he’s spent the last year getting to know online, Jake Pettersen is more than a little shocked to find out she’s a royal princess.

Enjoying being a regular person with Jake, Amira Saene hid her true identity, never being able to confess her lie of omission even as Jake’s arrival to the kingdom of Bagumi grows closer.

Not getting the meeting or greeting he’d hope for from the woman who’d stolen his heart, the young dentist soon learns his lack of wealth or status… or royal blood makes him unworthy of Amira in every way.

End of story, right?

Not even close.

Accompanied by his best friend and business partner, Calvin (whom I absolutely adored!), Jake stays and continues his vacation and chaperoned time with Amira.

It’s obvious the feelings Jake and Amira have for each other are real, and just when it looks like they’ll figure it all out, drama and conflict arrive together, and we’ll call them Duak—a prince and future king of a neighboring country.

Every story has that character you want to punch in the face, and in this story it’s Duak.

But even with the dark shadow Duak casts over the story… and Jake and Amira’s chance at happiness, help shows up from the unlikeliest of places and takes this read in another direction.

Will these two walk away from each other or is what they have worth fighting for? Amira will learn a lot about herself and the people she loves the most, but it may be too little too late.

His Defiant Princess has just the right amount of sweetness and spice, but it’s the romance that makes this read shine. This couple spent their online time really getting to know each other, sharing things they shared with no one else. Their hearts connected long before they met.

Amira and Jake are strong, well-developed characters. Jake isn’t diminished by the reversal of power, instead, he rises to the occasion. They have a great supporting cast, with Amira’s brother, Zareb, and mother, Queen Zulekha, as standouts. And, of course, Jake’s BFF, Calvin. (Did I mention I adore him?)

Pay a visit to the kingdom of Bagumi where the women are fierce, the men are protective, and the last thing you want to do is cross a member of the Royal House of Saene.

Enjoy!
Profile Image for Cathrina Constantine.
Author 21 books372 followers
September 14, 2021
A sweet story that turns into a kindling hot romantic situation. First off, let me say that I Love this cover! I've read a few of this authors books and Nana Prah has a sizzling romantic heart giving life to her engaging stories.

Jake and Amira have been chatting online for a year, and fell in love. However, when Jake travels all the way from Vermont to sweltering Africa to meet his love, Amira had left out one teeny-tiny fact. She is a princess! And then things get complicated. Especially when the king sets up an arranged marriage for Amira, and it's not Jake.

I never leave spoilers. Though, I highly recommend His Defiant Princess.
Profile Image for Amaka Azie.
Author 19 books98 followers
December 31, 2018
An easy sweet story. Could be a Disney Princess romance. A sweet story about Amira, a princess in a fictional African kingdom who falls for Jake an American who decides to meet her after a year of online chatting.
Profile Image for Cynthia (Bingeing On Books).
1,655 reviews124 followers
March 12, 2021
This was a very sweet story. I liked that Amira was feisty and could stand up for herself and speak her mind. I loved her. I liked the relationship between her and Jake and the fact that they met online. I did think the book was a little on the short side, but other than that, great read!
Profile Image for Agnes Kay-E.
Author 10 books2 followers
May 26, 2023
I was pleased to read a book that shows off a woman’s strength without being standoffish. I felt the book needed more. There were some funny scenes. I didn’t like that that the subplot didn’t pan out.
211 reviews
October 23, 2021
Good

This book was good. This was my first book by this author and I must say I enjoyed it and will read another.
Profile Image for Stanley Umezulike.
Author 7 books13 followers
May 24, 2020
I enjoyed reading His Defiant Princess—an interracial romance with a rebellious princess and the man she met online.

His Defiant Princess catapults the reader into a world of political tensions and emotional maneuvering. The author’s use of rhetorical questions to capture her characters' dilemma is brilliant.

Amira Oware Saene was the beloved Princess of Bagumi, a fictional kingdom in West Africa. Trouble started when she fell in love with a dentist from Vermont, Jake Petterson, a man she had been dating online. When they finally met after dating online for months, their chemistry was intense and it didn’t take long before they fell in love. As this was happening, a political crisis loomed between the Kingdom of Bagumi and their neighbouring Kingdom of Ashani.

To resolve the conflict regarding the river bordering their lands, both Kings decided to seal peace in their land with a marriage. Amira was shocked when her father caved in and agreed to a marriage between her and Prince Duak Omiata, the arrogant prince of Ashani Kingdom. This, of course, disturbed Amira and Jake and threatened to tear their love apart.

Princess Amira soon saw herself standing between the devil and the deep blue sea. She had a difficult decision to make. One that involved sacrificing her heart or her kingdom. Either she seals the peace between the two kingdoms by marrying a prince she hates or she defies her father–the king’s order and risks a war between Bagumi and Ashani, by choosing to stand with Jake, the man she loves.

Princess Amira’s rebellious nature and independent streak made me like her as I read the story. Calvin Shepard’s loyalty to his best friend, Jake; Zareb’s intensity and Queen Zulekha’s masterstroke, all guaranteed that there was no boring moment from the first page to end of the book.

The novel explored themes rooted in difficult issues we face every day in life, love and marriage: The challenge of online relationship; the recurring clash between modern lifestyle and cultural norms especially in Africa; love as sacrifice; the age-old question of whether family and career are more important than the person you love.

What set this novel apart is how Nana explored these difficult issues with exceptional skill and provided a unique solution in the end. The plot is real, the characters could be you and me, and the story is addictive.
Profile Image for Empi Baryeh.
Author 10 books57 followers
March 28, 2019
Dr Jake Petterson travels to Bagumi, West Africa, to meet Amira, a woman he's been chatting with for a year. He believes himself to be in love with her, but when he arrives, he discovers that Amira has been keeping a huge secret from him. She is a princess! Not only that, some members of her family are not happy with her choice of a commoner - especially a foreign one.

Although Jake is white and Amira is black, the most significant aspect of this racial difference is perhaps to highlight just how much of a fish out of water the hero is and how he makes up for it with his personality and his fierce sense of loyalty, which easily wins over Amira's tough big brothers (and me). This relationship is not about race at all, which is exactly how I like my interracial romance!

I thoroughly enjoyed the picture Ms Prah painted of Bagumi and its citizens. I've read a number of her books, and strong female characters is one of her strong suits. She definitely delivers on that with her depiction of the women of Bagumi (and not just the royals) who are strong-willing and as dominant as their men.

Even though Bagumi is a fictional country, I liked the cultural aspects woven into the story and made me connect even more with the setting and the people. I had a few laughs at the expense of the villain whom I found more funny than annoying.

His Defiant Princess did a great job of introducing readers to the series, the Saene family and the kingdom of Bagumi. This is a story that should whet readers' appetite for more of what Bagumi has to offer. Ayekoo!

Disclaimer: I bought my copy of the book from Amazon
Profile Image for MidnightAce.
189 reviews
December 23, 2018
MY REVIEW: I gave this one 🍷🍷🍷🍷

This is a new author for me and I will definitely be taking a look at other titles in her catalog. She gets us off to a great start in the ROYAL HOUSE OF SAENE: THE PRINCESSES SERIES.

Having the opportunity to study aboard gave Amira the chance to be just a regular girl and do regular stuff, i.e. online dating. It is this online connection that we meet Jake a dentist from Vermont.

It had to be more than just a budding friendship to propel Jake across the pond to the Kingdom of Bagumi and withstand the interrogation of the brothers, reducing him to no more to a commoner and then learning a game changing secret that Amira had been keeping from him this entire time.

While the brothers are micromanaging Jake and Amira's visit, the king is negotiating a betrothed. It is at this point you learn just why Amira is called the defiant princess. Because the king and queen raised them all to be well rounded, being the apple of everyone’s eye and her intelligence is the one thing Duak couldn’t compete with. When Jake is faced with yet another challenge in his love for her, he has to decide Fight or Flight? Will their country be able to withstand the devastation if they decide to follow their heart?

I enjoyed this one, loved how the two complimented each other and the supported characters that made this story complete. Do yourself a favor and check this out, you won’t be disappointed.

Profile Image for Shannan Harper.
2,248 reviews21 followers
December 18, 2018
I really enjoyed this story. Although Jake was protective, he didn't seem to want Amira to diminish herself for him. You could really feel the love between the two main characters. My favorite character happens to be Amira's mother. Momma had some tricks up her sleeve that would alleviated a lot of headaches if they had went to her with their issues first. I loved the growth and development of the characters. And I loved what ended up happening to Prince Duak Omiata, the jerk who was trying to force Amira to marry him. Great job.
Profile Image for Sassha Reads❤️❤️.
1,456 reviews9 followers
February 28, 2020
Cute

Jake and Amira had built a solid relationship over the internet and phone for a year and were both madly in love with each other. Duak desperately wanted Amira and schemed a plan to have them marry but Amira refused to marry him. In the end, Jake and Amira got to get married and have their HEA.
Profile Image for Ivy Harleston.
3 reviews
February 11, 2019
Oh my days, nothing like a royal romance. Loved this and read it in record time. I usually like my hero’s very Alpha - Jake wasn’t so much but very sweet and the chemistry he and the Princess was off the charts. Nice quick easy and enjoyable read. Looking forward to the rest of the series
2 reviews
May 6, 2019
This is a sweet read. Couldn't put it down when I started. A lovely romance making a lovely story. If you haven't read it yet … pls do.
Profile Image for Bonnie.
Author 4 books8 followers
Read
January 23, 2020
Lots of external conflict, but no internal arc for the characters, who are in love & lust from page one.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews

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