The Princess and the P.I.

by Angela Ruth Strong

Raised in the West Indies, Jacqueline James is on the verge of becoming a modern day princess until the prince hires a P.I. to do a background check and discovers her father is a fugitive from the States. Determined not to let her fairy tale fall apart, Jacqueline hires the P.I. to help her prove her father's innocence. When former police officer Beau Ryan's wife's murderer was acquitted, he left Miami on what would have been their anniversary cruise, planning never to return. It's his unexpected soft spot for Jacqueline that has him swallowing down the pain to face his past. Together they elude press, bounty hunters, and the Miami P.D., searching for the truth needed to free Jacqueline to marry a monarch. Will Beau be able to save the woman he loves this time around? And if so, how will being her knight in shining armor compare with a proposal from Prince Charming?

Genres: Christian Romance, Fiction, Contemporary

325 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 7, 2017

About the author

Angela Ruth Strong sold her first Christian romance novel in 2009. Her books have since earned TOP PICK in Romantic Times, been nominated for a Christy, won the Cascade Award, and become Amazon best-sellers. Her book Finding Love in Big Sky filmed as a movie in Montana and aired on UPtv in 2022. To help aspiring authors, she started IDAhope Writers where she lives in Idaho, and she teaches as an expert online at My Book Therapy.

Reviews

[Susan Snodgrass · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was just absolutely delightful and I thoroughly enjoyed every single moment of it. The moment I began reading, I knew it was going to be so much fun. A thoroughly swoon-worthy hero and an engaging heroine made this book. The author's dry wit throughout was just a wonderful addition as well. Perfect read for a vacation or just anytime you want to read a sweet book. It's even worthy of a re-read.

*I was provided with a preview copy of this book. My opinion is entirely my own.

September 16, 2019. I am rereading this book and loving it all the more all over again. It is so much fun. I am so connecting with Jacqueline and Beau. This book packs a powerful spiritual wallop, too, which is so amazing. Highly recommended.

[Beth | Faithfully Bookish · Rating 5 out of 5]

I selected this story during a Kindle Unlimited trial because the cover captured my attention and I’ve read and enjoyed a few of the author’s previous works. This story exceeded my expectations with its exotic locations, authentic characters, exciting plot, and satisfying happily ever after! The Princess and the P.I. is a delightful adventure and I highly recommend it!

[Angie Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story a lot! Jacqueline was the best kind of spunky heroine--adventurous and determined without the chip on her shoulder that so many female heroines seem to come with these days. Appreciating being protected even though she didn't always think before stepping into danger. And Beau... Well, let's just say, the rough-around-the-edges guy is not always my favorite trope, but when we got under those rough edges--such a heart of gold!!! And the way he asked if he could kiss her, and then respected her decision in spite of his obvious feelings? *writes book for ALL other fictional heroes* Also, Tia! And the Rosa family! Love, love, love!!!

There were a couple things that felt just a little off--some of the bits with/about the prince had me kind of scratching my head--not that anything was wrong; it just didn't ring quite true to me. Although maybe that was the point; I don't know. And Beau's investigating--during the case itself, it seemed like most of what he was capable of was the same kind of internet searches that Jacqueline could do, which had me questioning how on earth he'd managed to find out some of the stuff about her past that he kept bringing up (especially when her whole childhood wouldn't have been broadcast on social media...). It just seemed a bit odd. Although all the twists and turns and never being quite certain who to trust were really well done. :)

I liked the way the spiritual themes were woven through the book, especially with Beau's journey. And even though there were some twists that I was not expecting and usually am not a fan of, they weren't done in a way that knocks stars off my rating. So there you go! :)

Content--mentions of various crimes; mentions of deaths, including suicide, murder, and attempted murder; violence, including fistfights, gunplay, and explosions; mentions of blood and wounds (not graphic); some kissing and touching (not overly descriptive); mentions of drinking and a character drinking to forget (resolved); mentions of an affair; mention of a rape in a minor character's past

[Marylin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I need to breathe and slow my heart down!
What a delightful book to read and yet not. I say this only because there was so much going on throughout the whole book. I just needed to take a breather every once in a while. Then there were moments I didn’t want to read, where my heart just hurt too much with all the deep emotions I felt.
Angela Ruth Strong has a real way with words and action. This story was packed with action, drama, suspense, and fun “almost fairytale” romance. It was a non-stop story which held me until the very end!
In this story, there are many nuggets of wise words. One of my favorite characters was Mama Rosa. OH MY! She was fun to read and yet had some deep soul searching conversations. I loved her.
If you get a chance I highly recommend you pick this book up. It will knock your socks off!
I received this book from the author and all opinions are my own.

[Erin Laramore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was in the mood for a fun story and this one popped out at me with its fun name as having good potential to be a fun book! For the most part, it was! I really enjoyed Jacqueline's personality and even her naivety was refreshing. This story had a little bit of everything. I would classify this as contemporary romance (which is one of my least favorite genres, but I enjoyed this one!), but it had so much more. There was, of course, the love triangle, which was the basis of the story line, but there was also a lot of action, a little bit of suspense, a 25 year old mystery to solve, and danger! And as soon as I would start laughing, I'd start crying. As I was sitting on the edge of my seat, I suddenly got smacked with a spiritual truth (did I mention? There's also a solid faith thread). If you want a good book that will take you on a wild ride and still teach you something about God, this is one I would recommend. One thing that would detract from a completely positive review was that there were several typos, but it was not so much to take away from the story

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started the book last night and literally didn't put it down until I was finished....LOVED it!!! Miami is described PERFECTLY and I so loved both characters. Finished reading at 5AM this morning and didn't know what to do because I wasn't tired and my heart was pumping from that read :) It's a tremendous read, but be aware that once you start it you won't want to put it away until you've finished! My first time reading Strong's work, now I need to read more of her work, and she has to write more stories. Five stars ALL THE WAY, SUCH a great book :) One of my fave reads this year.

[Camilla Cruz · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun read! The fantastic cover is a perfect segue into a story full of challenges, mystery, drama, humor, thrilling adventure, and hopes and dreams that are first dashed then redeemed. And there are loads of encouraging quotes, too. It isn't a super long read, but the characters do go through tremendous growth through their experiences. The overall theme could be this quote from the book, "good could come out of the unhappy things, too."

[Toni Shiloh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the story. It had great suspense, action, and a faith thread that we all need to learn.

[Leah · Rating 3 out of 5]

August/Miami, FL & St. Lucia

This is about a woman trying to prove her father's innocence to win the heart of a prince. Things don't go the way she planned. The same is true for the man she hired to help her. The story is a mystery with a lot of action. I thought this part of the story would end differently. I wasn't expecting it to be who it was. The romance is secondary but not by much. The pace is fast, and so is the timing. Everyone falls in love with each other quickly.

[Victoria Bylin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining from start to finish. I wanted something fast paced and fun with heartfelt romance. This story was a perfect fit.

[Jaycee Weaver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this story

I’m a fan of Angela Ruth Strong. Love her Sun Valley series. Honestly, though? This stand-alone was my favorite! The instant attraction and chemistry throughout was off the charts, but squeaky clean. She made so many clever fairy tale tie-ins and parallels! They equally sweetened the story, brought laughs, and developed our heroine’s character. The faith elements were woven naturally into the story and brought so much out of our H&h, growing and shaping them individually so they could be ready for an HEA. Suspenseful, and cleverly told.

[Beverly Cheevers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strong is aptly named, as her ability to introduce likable,engaging characters enveloped in unlikely yet intriguing circumstances is, well... a strength. This was my first full AR Strong romance: I began Finding Love in Eureka, CA, which I purchased at the same time as The Princess and the PI, but got distracted by life and hadn't finished it when I started this one (yes, I am slightly schizo, and yes, I WILL be going back to it).
I liked the banter between Jacqueline and Beau, and especially that their friendship developed as much as their romance through the course of events. And the situations that advanced it were fun, well-planned and well-written.
The inspirational aspect of their story, however, was not a strength, in my estimation. I was expecting for Jackie to have a deeper and yet relatable, credible relationship with the Lord, especially when she renews her commitment to Him, based on what I have read on Angela's Facebook author page, and in blog posts and articles elsewhere. The powerful honesty of Angela's personal testimony and her ability to discuss and relate biblical truths did not migrate/translate completely (for me) when describing her characters' spiritual journeys, so that particular left me puzzled and distracted (see how easily it happens?).
However, because Angela is a good story-teller with a great imagination, and she does love the Lord and the people He's made, I not only recommend The Princess and the PI for its fun and funny, adventurous spirit, but I will be reading as many of her books I can affordably get my hands on (digitally speaking; I buy them on my Kindle). ;)

[Edward Arrington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Angela Ruth Strong tells an exciting story about a woman raised in St. Lucia by her father after his wife died and he moved there so he could raise their daughter. When the daughter learns that her father has lived there as a fugitive for twenty-five years, she takes matters in her own hands to prove his innocence of the crimes he was charged with committing. Securing the services of the same private investigator who uncovered her father’s past and revealed it to her, she heads with him to Miami to seek answers. The action is intense, the plot is suspenseful, and the romance is like a seesaw as her emotions swing back and forth between the prince she was expecting to marry and the man who is trying to help clear her father. The P.I. is in a similar dither as he struggles with his attraction for Jacqueline and the urgency of keeping her safe. I particularly appreciated the faith elements in the story as both the hero and the heroine wrestle with their faith amidst all of the turmoil they have encountered during their lives and all that they are currently facing. The clear message is that God loves each one of us in spite of where we are, what we have done, or how we handle the things that come our way. The characters in the story learned the important lesson that they did not have to be perfect for God to love them. I received a copy of the book from the author. This is my honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.

[Lindsay Rankin · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. I really enjoyed reading Beau and Jacqueline's story! The mystery was compelling, the banter fun, and the setting beautiful. I really enjoyed the parts where they were in the West Indies, because I haven't read many books set there.

I loved how Jacqueline wanted so much to be a princess, because I think that is one of the deepest desires of most women, to be treated like we are precious and valuable. (Because we women are precious and valuable, but we don't always feel that to be true, so it helps to have others validate that.)

I also enjoyed Beau's story arc, especially the theme of attempting to bargain with God. I love the scene where he realizes he doesn't need to bargain with the Almighty, but I won't say anymore about that because I don't want to spoil it for anyone. You'll just have to read it for yourself! ;)

Also, Beau and Jacqueline's romance is really sweet! Though their path to love was pretty rough, I was cheering them on the whole way. The book takes place over a few days, so they fall in love very quickly, but I found the romance to be believable, as well as enjoyable to read about.

I docked a half point for spelling and grammatical errors. There weren't too many, but enough that I felt I couldn't give it a full five stars. I really enjoyed reading this book though, and I definitely recommend it!

[Phyllis · Rating 4 out of 5]

She only wanted to be a princess. . .

The Princess and the P.I. was a a little bit of everything with just the right blend of suspense, mystery, romance, tension, and learning about God.

I loved the way that Jacqueline and Beau were combinations of strength and weakness.  The lessons they learned as they sought her mother's killer and the one who framed her father were profound.  Jacqueline had to learn her worth in Christ alone.  Beau had to learn how to empty himself so that God could fill him.

The solution to the mystery made sense, but I have to confess that I was led all over the place as I read.  The author did a great job of dropping hints to get me looking where I shouldn't have been looking.

I am still a little confused about the motive behind the murder of Beau's wife.  Why Drake was there at all doesn't quite make sense to me.  There were also a few continuity issues.  When they were in Miami, there were a couple of things that happened outside the sequence of time that was laid out - either that of the days were much longer than we normally experience them here in Florida.  :-)

 This review was originally posted on Among the Reads

[Sonya Wasden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jacqueline James had dreams of being a princess and marrying Prince Steffan. But, the prince had hired a PI to investigate Jacqueline to make sure there were no skeletons in her closet. This PI, Beau Ryan, discovered that Jacqueline's father was a criminal on the run and had been charged with embezzling from his employer over 25 years earlier. They lived in the West Indies where they had fled after her mother's death. Jacquline couldn't believe the charges were true. She then hired Beau Ryan to help prove her father's innocence.

Beau Ryan was a Miami cop on a leave after his wife's murder. In this story there was suspense, drama, romance, some violence, kidnapping, attempted murder, and many more facets to the story. I liked how the author weaved the idea that we are children of a loving God and even when things don't happen the want we want, he still loves us and wants to protect us.

I won't give away the story but it is worth the read. I was given an arc copy of this book and I willingly offer my honest review.

[AnnaMay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow.  I was entertained, taught and touched by this story.  I struggled for the first bit as the characters were introduced, because it seemed a little to star-struck 'Bachelorette'-like.  As I continued reading, though, things became real pretty quickly.  The drama and conflict were the type found in movies, but the author treated their cinema likeness as a kind of inside joke in itself, so the reality of the story came through.  Can I say 'Hoorah!  Wow!  Yes!"  about the ending?  So many books are a great read and have a fun ending and I'm left smiling, but this ending went a step further.  I'm smiling, cheering, and realizing deep down that there IS more to life.  You'll just have to read the book to know what I mean...
[great conflict, great dialogue, great character development, minor characters added to the story, the 'TV feel' drama was juxtaposed with real life in a meaningful way; sometimes we are more open to learning something important if it's couched in something more lighthearted or distant from reality.]

[Lorel Kline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Angela Ruth Strong takes you on a journey full of suspense, danger, self-realization, faith restored, and love. She was planning to be a princess and was waiting for her price to introduce he to is parents and propose. Then she found out that her dad was fugitive and skipped bail 25 years ago. She hired a P.I. to help her prove her father's innocence getting more in the process than she bargained for. In her pursuit for justice, she also wanted to find out who killed her mother. In the search for the truth, their lives are in danger as they try figuring out who did what. In all the turmoil and danger, they both realize at different times that they have also been running from God. She realizes that the only princess she really needs to be is the King of King's, God's Princess, which she already is. the P.I. realizes he needs God's help to keep her safe. Will they figure out the truth in time? Read this action packed story and find out by this wonderful author.

[Janet Sketchley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one wild ride, and at times I felt like the nonstop action was over the top. It's a good story though, romantic suspense partly set in beautiful St. Lucia and partly in beautiful Florida.

I liked the characters. They're authentic. What I most appreciated was the faith element, specifically in relation to 1) identity: what it means to be a child of the King, and 2) grief: being honest with God about our pain, disappointment, anger, etc. Both of these emerge organically from the characters' experiences.

My copy was free via the author's website (through Book Funnel). I don't know if it's the same as the one available through Amazon--maybe it wasn't updated. There are a lot of copyediting issues. But it's a feel-good (and tense!) story that's worth a read for the characters and what they learn about themselves and about God.

[Linda Fore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jacqueline James believed in fairy tales and happily ever after until her prince ran a background check on her and discovered her father was an accused man on the run. Before she can marry her prince, she must prove her father’s innocence and find the real thief. With what she thinks is nothing else to lose, Jacqueline teams up with the very P.I. who exposed her father to find the truth. As she runs from a tabloid reporter, Jacqueline discovers even more secrets from her past. Her search uncovers murder and help from a surprising place.
This story has more than a few unexpected twists and turns and provides a very good evening’s entertainment.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jacqueline James has been raised by her father on St. Lucia. Working for a resort, she meets a handsome prince who wants to marry her. Since he's a prince, he has her investigated so there will be no embarrassing surprises. When Beau Ryan, the private investigator discovers her father is a fugitive from the United States, Jacqueline and Beau go to Miami to try to prove him innocent, setting off a string of dangerous adventures. Jacqueline had dreamed of being a princess but had forgotten she already was one since she was the daughter of the King, a child of God. She did a lot of self discovery including realigning her heart. This was a very entertaining romantic suspense.

[Sarah E · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a cute story!
I was drawn to it by the title, of course (like, who can resist anything with "princess" in it?). It was easy to read and I cried (twice) at some parts of the story. The romance was adorable and I love Beau!!!! Jacqueline was an awesome character and came out a better person in the end. As far as exciting and suspenseful, the book was a bit lacking, in my opinion. I basically stayed for the romance between the two main characters. So, if you're in it for action then....I wouldn't recommend too much but that's just how I feel! The plot was pretty good and writing was cute too!
Sweet and easy read!

[Chautona Havig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, I knew I'd love this. It's Angela Ruth Strong. It's going to be funny and it's going to have a lot of action. What I didn't expect (and I should have) was the depth of the faith elements in something that FEELS so frivolous.
A woman wants to marry a prince but she has to clear her father's name first. Enter PI. They take a trip. They trip up everywhere. People get hurt. They get hurt. Enter explosions and bad people. Enter finally trusting the Lord for stuff. Finally, a resolution that you know has to come but she made you believe wouldn't despite it being a ROMANCE and it has to come.
Conclusion? Angela Ruth Strong is a genius. Like we all didn't know that.

[Becky Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really, REALLY fun read! Besides the suspense which kept me turning pages and a little mystery, the humor in the book is absolutely wonderful! Then there are also the many encouraging and thought-provoking lines that make this such an enjoyable read. I was given a complimentary copy and wanted to leave my own honest review of this fun book and recommend it to others. I actually look forward to re-reading it. This is better than a fairytale!!!

[April Kidwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Princess and the P.I. is a fun adventure! I loved the message of accepting our status as a princess of God first. Jaqueline is a strong female lead, with some quirky traits to make her lovable. Beau Ryan is a man you hope can find love again. I hated the fact that the bad guy(s) succeeds at one point to cause some serious pain (trying not to spoil anything here), but thought that in the end all of the pieces of the puzzle made sense.

[Marilyn Burrows · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lot of chasing who they thought might be killers. They kept adding up. She has a relationship with God and her dad. Then she moved to a small island and met her prince. And he cared for her. She wanted to be his Princess. But he had her investigated. And her dad had a lot of skeltons. If the investigator could prove her dads innocence she could become a princess. But there is much more

[Nati · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jacqueline is been treated like princess for her father all her life. Now she can marry a real prince but she has to clear his father’s name. Beau’s life ended when his wife was murdered and the killer got away free. Now he is been hired to help Jacqueline but he has to come back to Miami. Will they face their fears and struggles and find real love?

[Linda Rainey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tension and suspense fuel this romance about second chances and letting go and letting God take control.
I enjoyed the storyline and the interesting characters.
This book is for those who like Christian romantic suspense.
An ARC was given to me by the author. My opinions are 100% my own.

[Megan Besing · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable

Cute story. Enjoyable characters to cheer for. Repeated the word 'fat mouth' several times. I've never heard anyone of the characters ages say that before. But perhaps it's a regional thing? Overall recommendable.

[CarolynB · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a fun read—trying to keep up with all of the plot twists and turns was crazy. Although I suspected how the story would end, getting there was fun and sometimes nerve wracking! The author was new to me, but I’ll be reading more by her.