American Royals

Beatrice

Present Day

Beatrice could trace her ancestry back to the tenth century.

It was really only through Queen Martha s side, though most people refrained from mentioning that. After all, King George I had been nothing but an upstart planter from Virginia until he married well and then fought even better. He fought so well that he helped win America s independence, and was rewarded by its people with a crown.

But through Martha, at least, Beatrice could trace her line­age for more than forty generations. Among her forebears were kings and queens and archdukes, scholars and soldiers, even a canonized saint. We have much to learn by looking back, her father always reminded her. Never forget where you come from.

It was hard to forget your ancestors when you carried their names with you as Beatrice did: Beatrice Georgina Fredericka Louise of the House of Washington, Princess Royal of America.

Beatrice s father, His Majesty King George IV, shot her a glance. She reflexively sat up straighter, to listen as the High Constable reviewed the plans for tomorrow s Queen s Ball. Her hands were clasped over her demure pencil skirt, her legs crossed at the ankle. Because as her etiquette teacher had drilled into her ­by hitting her wrist with a ruler each time she slipped up ­a lady never crossed her legs at the thigh.

And the rules were especially stringent for Beatrice, because she was not only a princess: she was also the first woman who would ever inherit the American throne. The first woman who would be queen in her own right: not a queen consort, married to a king, but a true queen regnant.

If she d been born twenty years earlier, the succession would have jumped over her and skipped to Jeff. But her grandfather had famously abolished that centuries-­old law, dictating that in all subsequent generations, the throne would pass to the oldest child, not the oldest boy.

Beatrice let her gaze drift over the conference table before her. It

Katharine McGee is the New York Times bestselling author of American Royals and the Thousandth Floor trilogy. She studied English and French literature at Princeton University and has an MBA from Stanford. She now lives in Houston with her husband. Visit her online at katharinemcgee.com. Follow her at @katharinemcgee.

With elegance, saucy secrets, and forbidden love, American Royals is fast-paced and utterly charming. Katharine McGee s prose sparkles, capturing the glamour and pressures of an American monarchy. Kendare Blake, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Three Dark Crowns series
 
Inventive, fresh, and deliciously romantic American Royals is an absolute delight! Sarah J. Maas, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Throne of Glass series and Court of Thorns and Roses series

Imagine a world where Meghan Markle is the queen of the United States of America . American Royals is the next closest thing. Teen Vogue

"For all the glamour and intrigue, there's also a reality check. All four central characters struggle to reconcile the expectations the world imposes on them with the internal selves they discover through heartbreak and struggle."  The New York Times Book Review
 
A soapy, escapist blockbuster [following] the drama, scandal and romances of the impossibly glamorous young court. An unabashedly frothy romp, and enormous fun."  The Guardian

A fun, fast-paced read packed with drama, scandal, and romance The Sun

Mixing scandalous secrets and political intrigue, American Royals is thrillingly addictive. Shelf Awareness

"Critical questions tantalize readers through the foibles and flaws of characters who are frustratingly human readers will eagerly await the next installment to find out whether true love will win or stodgy tradition will triumph.   Kirkus Reviews

A deliciously soapy American royal family McGee s characters are well-crafted and flawed, giving the narrative emotional texture that elevates it above the dramatic formula. Publishers Weekly

Readers will be hooked . A fun twist on history as we know it, and