An original fairy tale about a princess makes a dangerous bargain with her father to win the right to choose her husband.
A pampered princess is told she must marry a prince she doesn't like, let alone love, on her nineteenth birthday. Desperate to find a way to stop this arranged marriage, she makes a bargain with her father. If she can survive for three months in the forest with no help of any kind and return healthy and unharmed, then she can choose the man she will marry. The King accepts the wager, knowing he can't possibly lose. Princess Faith knows she must win this deal, but once she ventures into the forest, she has no idea how she can possibly succeed.
Professional Reviews
Reader's Favorite 5-star review
"Ah! A classic romance. But what is life without the fantasy of a good romance to soothe the soul. D.G. Driver's romance novelette, The Royal Deal, has all the ingredients of a compassionate and exciting tale to suit the reader's fanciful desires: a princess seeking true love, an arrogant prince that she doesn't like, a conflict of wills and desires, a deal that requires every inch of devotion in order to succeed, and a missing prince. Who is this prince? Where is he? Does he still live? And who is this other character, the one she meets in the woods? A short little dose of excitement, fantasy and romance."
Between the Lines review
"This modern take on a fairy tale was a quick and very pleasant way to while away an hour or two. Faith was a lovely, genuine character, I was willing her to succeed even though it looked very unlikely. She knows she has weaknesses but believes in herself and wants to take control of her own life. Faith is made of strong stuff for someone who has been cosseted all her life, and despite being completely ill-equipped, the hardships, difficulties and failures, she is courageous and doesn’t give up easily. Lessons are learned during her time in the forest, about herself and what is important in life – anything worth having is worth fighting for."
Amazon customer review
"From the very start, it is made very clear that Faith is not your typical princess. Just as well, as this is not your typical fairy tale. Faith is outspoken, strong willed, and enterprising... What follows is a fast-paced, quick-witted, surprising, and unique tale of a modern princess in ancient times. In this novella, Driver turns the idea of a classic fairy tale on its head by giving us a heroine that defies every characteristic that typically befalls a princess. Faith is a princess that does not hide behind castle walls but instead throws herself into the unknown; instead of being rescued, she refuses help time and time again; most notably she dreads the idea of a marriage to a prince if it means that there is no love. As Faith's story of survival in the woods unfolds it becomes apparent that this is not only a story of a young woman against the elements, but a story of a woman versus tradition, her family, and what is expected of her. Faced with multiple hardships, danger, and the inevitable realization that her royal life has contributed to her being ill-equipped for survival, it is impossible not to cheer her on and hope for the best. Success appears to be on the horizon when circumstances in the woods suddenly change. But it's only through that, that Faith (and the reader) can realize that aid does not equate helplessness, and that to be vulnerable -- especially in love -- one can find one's own greatest strength."
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