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Van der Borne University

Home to the Privileged. Powerful. Elite

My friends and I own this school, ruling it with our lavish parties, twisted games and scandalous bets.

Then she showed up threatening our hierarchy, refusing to play, refusing to bow. So now, I’ll make an example of her. Turning her into an unwitting pawn on my board.

I’ll win her trust and pull her into the dark depraved world I command, taking away everything that matters to her.

When I’m done she’ll be an empty shell, and this will be my greatest triumph.

Because the most satisfying type of destruction is the one they never see coming.

300 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 1, 2021

153 people are currently reading
418 people want to read

About the author

Dakota Lee

8 books61 followers
Dakota Lee is an overworked mom of three human garbage disposals and a dog who thinks she’s a wolf.

In the daylight, she loves paranormal/ supernatural books and tv shows, comic book movies, action movies, and the comfort of a good Hallmark movie.

When the sun goes down, she’s been known to tune into some after dark deliciousness that she would never tell her co-workers about.

She’s here to push boundaries through her words and hopefully take you on a twisty, thorny journey on the way to a happily ever after.

And if you happen to fall for the asshole before he’s redeemed, that’s okay.

Dakota’s got a weakness for the bad boys too.

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5 stars
106 (39%)
4 stars
80 (30%)
3 stars
51 (19%)
2 stars
15 (5%)
1 star
14 (5%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
Profile Image for CeCe.
3,617 reviews109 followers
November 9, 2022
There was a lot of filler. The book could have been cut in half.
Your typical bully romance. Both MCs were mediocre.
The cliffhanger was nice so o will continue with book 2.
A bet that turned to more.
Profile Image for Nagma (Take A Look At My Bookshelf).
1,712 reviews100 followers
June 12, 2021
Beautiful Prince is Dakota Lee’s debut and book one in the Van der Borne University series. This is a college bully romance, and I really enjoyed it. I’ve read a few bully romances, but they’ve mostly been high school bully romances, so seeing this series is set in a university really sets it apart from other books.

Told in dual first POV of Logan and Jordanna, Beautiful Prince is an enemies to lovers, opposites attract, rich boy/poor girl, bully romance set in an elite college with arrogant characters. This book had me hooked from the first page and I really enjoyed the chemistry and slow burn between Logan and Jordanna. I loved Jordanna’s strong, fierce nature, and Logan’s possessive alpha male vibe.

This book ends on a cliffhanger and is the first book of a trilogy. I’m really looking forward to the next book in the series! I’m hooked on Jordanna and Logan and can’t wait to see what happens with these two!

Rating: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Profile Image for Krista.
1,245 reviews7 followers
June 11, 2021
I have an appreciation for the bully romance genre in the school setting. This one was slow to pull me in and didn't really stand out for me. I did like Jordanna. She was sassy and was not taking Bella's crap, which I loved. Because let's be honest, Bella needs to be taken down a notch or two. It was okay story for me, but I just had a hard time buying into Jordanna and Logan.
546 reviews2 followers
June 12, 2021
Very well written book. Catching writing style, easy to read, characters well developed. The author manages to make even the most unpleasant people seem sympathetic, ( except for Bella, she will probably never be sympathetic).Jordanna has been awarded a scholarship to a prestigieus university, where the student population is dominated by a group of wealthy students. These students led by Logan and triggered by queen bee Bella devise the worst bets and taunts. Jordanna remains herself and that is not appreciated. She becomes the target of bullying and a bet that ends very painfully and humiliatingly for her. Logan is the one who has to seduce Jordanna for the bet and although he does change a bit getting to know her, the interests are too great to stop. It might remind a bit of an old movie " Cruel Intentions. Logan is not a nice person, yet the author manages to portray an attractive man. Jordanna is a strong personality. Still, she’s naive enough to fall for Logan’s plan, despite his previous showing of being a nasty man. Jordanna just perseveres and goes back to university after the winter while everyone expects her to give up.In addition to the issues at university, she also has problems at home and has already had to overcome more obstacles and deal with disappointments. Logan appears to only deal with his interests and future plans.
As you read you ask yourself how people how people like Logan’s group can be so nasty, how Jordanna (and others) put up with it and find yourself hoping they will get what they deserve. Like a good movie, I was totally sucked into the story.
Actually, this book has only one downside: it is the first part of a triptych and ends with a (mild) cliffhanger. I am an impatient reader and hate series where I have to wait for the next part. Still, I have to, because I'm way too curious about how Jordanna will come back.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Ingrid Vermeulen-Quakernaat.
1,230 reviews10 followers
June 15, 2021
A great book, what else can I say!

A bully story but with a woman who won't be bullied. Unimpressed by the group of beautiful people (BP as Jordanna calls them in her mind) she doesn't let Bella, the uncrowned queen of Van der Borne University, lecture her. Her witty and quickly delivered comments even mean that Bella is brought down. But whatever Bella does, Jordanna continues to walk with her head held high.
Bella wants to get rid of her. Jordanna came to the VDU with a scholarship where there are only mega rich young people. To Bella, she is a stain on her school. She persuades Logan to make a bet with her to maintain his position as King. He must seduce Jordanna, take her virginity and make her love him. That's not enough for Bella. She also wants him to provide proof of all this that gets her kicked out of school, Broken and humiliated is Bella's goal.

Logan agrees to the bet, but along the way he realizes that Jordanna is more than meets the eye. The game is played but there are 2 that are left broken.

I think Jordanna is a strong woman with her own insecurities that she slowly overcomes. And while you know Logan is a bully and a player, my heart breaks for him too at the end of this book. Fortunately, there is a sequel; The Broken Princess

Highly recommended for those who love a bully and dark school romance

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
689 reviews124 followers
May 13, 2021
Beautiful Prince is book one in the new series by Dakota Lee. It looks like this is the author’s first book and I'm really impressed. Despite some editing issues, this book is very well written with a tight plot and great character development. This is a bully romance that takes place in college. I found the setting refreshing due to the abundance of high school bully romance books. I will say that the characters could have passed for high school students with their levels of maturity. We have the requisite group of rich kids who rule the college and the scholarship student who ruffles feathers and gets into their crosshairs. There's a huge Cruel Intentions vibe happening here. I quite liked the heroine because, for once, here's a girl who put up some sort of a fight. Not so sure about the hero. I wanted more from him. More strength as he's the king of the college and an ability to think for himself. I did like his possessiveness and the chemistry was on point. Though, again, it would have made more sense for him to be more assertive in taking what he wants in the bedroom. The book ends on a cliffhanger and book two is coming in October. Overall, I'm definitely intrigued enough to continue with the series.
Profile Image for The Lushy Reader.
973 reviews26 followers
November 25, 2021
Amazing!

Soooo I read a lot of bully romances and this one is right up to par. It’s genius in a way, because it hits on a different level. It’s not the outright, immediate humiliation that many bullies go for. This is about the long game. And the problem with the long game??

It’s hurts on a deeper level.

It’s angsty in a way that has your heart aching. You find yourself hoping, maybe even praying a little, that everything between Logan and Jordanna is genuine. The friendship that seems to organically bloom from two people, from different sides of the track, who find a common ground. The chemistry that starts as a tiny flicker but grows into a smoldering flame. The love that can’t be denied because I feel it too.

This is the moment I realize that Dakota Lee deserves to be hailed along with the best of them…

Because when the bully rears his ugly head and the manipulation is revealed, I’m already so invested in Logan and Jordy that my heart literally aches and I quietly shed a tear.

The only thing keeping me going is knowing that these beautiful people will get what’s coming to them because one thing I know for sure…is that Broken Princesses come back stronger.
Profile Image for Slick.
102 reviews4 followers
June 4, 2021
Dakota Lee has outdone herself with her debut and I can only foresee bigger and brighter days ahead for her writing.

Jordy and Logan’s story rocked my world and each scroll of the page left me in anticipation of what could possibly come next. At one point I didn’t know if I supported their relationship or detested it but the entire time I was a little zealous. All in all the burn and pace of the story is just perfect and it is a book that will go on my list of recommendations to every book lover I know.

I was expecting to receive some satisfaction to see how it ends but I am equally happy that the ending leaves a leeway for second book as I would like to see how their story progresses and hopefully there is a happy ending in their future.

Typically, I do not like to read sequels based on the same characters, but I cannot tear my eyes away from the pages of the book when it comes to these two.
Profile Image for Kreela.
657 reviews22 followers
November 28, 2023
Only when I finished did I realize how poignant the title is. Logan is definitely not a beautiful person. He is nominally in charge of a game the blue-blooded elites play, which includes a weekly swap night and seasonal obliteration of someone’s character.

When Joanna arrives on scholarship, the local top B, Bella, targets her for elimination. Logan takes the challenge and slowly woos her into sexcapades and love. It’s sweet and sad at the same time, knowing they both share a love for art. Plus, Logan actually does some amazingly boyfriend-worthy attempts to calm Joanna down when she is having trouble in class.

I could see the train wreck coming but loved the ride.

Trigger warnings:
[] Too smexy at times for my taste. Anal, light consensual bondage, and other experiments
[] Public sex
[] “Alpha” male: he takes charge 🥰
[] Public humiliation 🥲
[] Shaming

Class-difference
Academy dark romance
M/F dual POV
1,486 reviews7 followers
June 12, 2021
Jordanna is dealing with allot and a new school is only the beginning what happens next will change her life lies,sex and betrayal and behind everything is one boy and his cruel elitists friends. Every good bully romance has one thing the victim the real evil and a anti-hero you love to hate one that makes you want to fan your face when there dirty one that you want punch in the face when there being really bad hello Logan.

Jordanna may start out as the victim because she doesn't understand the ugly games rich people play but once she recovers she's ready to play her goal make them pay and she mite have help but who. Let's hope Jordanna isn't getting played again.

Why oh why do I read books with cliffhangers I hate to wait for the next one but I cant wait for it to come out. I was allowed to read and advance copy of this book via Booksprout and this is my honest review.
Profile Image for Yoneidis.
2,149 reviews12 followers
October 18, 2021
I haven’t been able to stop reading until I have finished.
Logan and Jordanna’s story begins when she transfer to Logan’s university and Logan’s friends brand her as the new victim of their wicked games.
Jordanna, despite being an innocent young woman, has character and a strong personality and doesn’t hesitate to speak her mind, so Bella, the queen bee of the school, makes a bet with Logan to finish her off and get her to drop out and leave.
Logan has a hard time at first, but thanks to their common passion for art, he gets closer to her little by little.
Until finally Jordanna gives herself to him body and soul, to latter suffer when she realizes that nothing has been real.
But even though it seems like a plot already seen, the characters in this book make it special, especially Jordanna.
I’m dying to know what will happen in the next book.
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Profile Image for BeaC.
380 reviews4 followers
May 19, 2021
Cruel Intentions meet After! (If you are a fan of either of both movies this book is for you)

Strong story line, enemies to lovers, bad boys, bullying, elite college, a brave heroine, and lots of sexiness made this one a real winner for me.

Within the first pages I was already hooked, the slow burn was so good but the chemistry between Jordanna and Logan take the cake, its so addictive, it kept me turning pages and my personal plot twist happened when I realized is not a standalone, but a trilogy and I found myself almost screaming "NOOOOO!, why are you doing this to me?" (It's a true story lol).

Cliffhangers like this one make the wait tough and saying I enjoy this book is an understatement, I loved it and I cant wait for the next one!

906 reviews2 followers
August 10, 2021
Let's Play A Game!

Dakota has written a story that is dark but somehow romantic. It is a ruination story with a mean girl and a group that lords over the school. One girl, Jordanna, who is coming into her own as a woman. Only to be brought down by the man she loves.

This book ends in a cliffhanger, and we will need to wait for book two to find out what happens next. It's my next read, because Dakota 's writing is on point. She fleshes out the main characters, so we know what they look like and, more importantly, we know their character. They are three dimensional. For me, imagery is key to every story I read, because I like to see the story play out my head. Beautiful Prince does. Enjoy!
Profile Image for Samantha Hickey.
1,976 reviews48 followers
September 18, 2021
I love this book!!

This book will suck you in!! Logan is the king of the school. He loves collecting secrets, and doing bets with his group of friends. Jordanna is the new girl at school. And when Logan sets his sights on her, he is out to get her.
Logan is RUTHLESS but Jordanna doesn't put up with his crap at all. She goes thru so much but doesn't let it bring her down or ruin her chance at what she wants to do.
These 2 could be EXPLOSIVE together, if Logan can just get his head outta his a$$😂
I couldn't get enough of this world. I absolutely loved this book and I can't wait for book 2
Profile Image for Sheila.
1,164 reviews11 followers
March 8, 2022
Beautiful Prince by Dakota Lee is not a standalone and does end with a cliffhanger !

This is Book 1 ( Van der Borne University )

I have not read any books by this author and will be going into stalker mode ! I could not put Beautiful Prince down - loved it - here’s why :

The cover and book blurb got my attention
Great characters
Awesome heroine
Interesting story line and plot twists
Bully romance - new adult
Sizzling chemistry

This is one of my favorite genres and Beautiful Prince is up there with the best of bully romances !

So good ! I recommend this read !

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for C 10.
206 reviews5 followers
June 13, 2021
Great bully romance. I just love them and Logan makes a great bully. "I love you then I hate you, then I hate you then I love you".
He is nasty to Jordanna who totally stands up to herself even after he takes the bet to make her fall for him too far and she goes back to Uni after the holiday's and face them again. Cudo's for her.
Unfortunately this is a series and you have to buy the rest of the books to find out what happens.
Will recommend.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Holly.
2,889 reviews
June 14, 2021
The story has good storyline and good flow.
You could love characters and hate them as this is enemies to lovers romance.
College and bad boys,parties and woman who knows who she is and don’t take any crap from anybody.
Jordanna and Logan , chemistry between them could burn your kindle. It’s slow burn with a lot of sexiness.
The story its so addictive, it kept me turning pages . Unfortunately is not a standalone, but a trilogy ...more to come

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
657 reviews9 followers
June 15, 2021
You should definitely read the prequel 'Ascension' beforehand to get an idea of how Logan came to power, and the games his group play for power. That said, 'Beautiful Prince' is a well written story in dual P.O.V.'s of Logan and Jordanna. The characters have strong personalities but are from different sides of the tracks so to speak, with a slow simmering chemistry. The storyline gets you hooked in and ends in a cliffhanger, having you clawing for more.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Becca.
162 reviews7 followers
May 15, 2021
This is Dakota’s debut novel and wow, she has knocked it out of the park. I devoured this book pretty fast as I just couldn’t get enough of Logan & Jordanna. Logan is a possessive alpha male that has ulterior motive when getting close to ‘Jordy’, which leaves you with mixed feelings of how you should feel about him. Logan and Jordanna have brilliant chemistry that has you rooting for them throughout the book, but will they both get what they want? This book ends on a cliff hanger and I’m so intrigued to see where their story goes from here when book 2 gets released in October. If you haven’t read the prequel, Ascension, then I would definitely recommend reading that first, as it gives you a real insight to how Logan became King of Van der Bourne University.
52 reviews3 followers
June 1, 2021
Oof, from the start I was pulled into Jordanna and Logan's story.

With his arrogant ways and sneaky motives, I was instantly wary of Logan, but as all bad boys do, he slowly grew on me. Jordanna, although hesitant at first, also succumbs to his bad boy charm. A bit begrudgingly, Logan helps pull her out of her shell in more ways than one.

Dakota had me, hook, line and sinker into this story and that cliffhanger ending has got me counting down until book 2!
Profile Image for Jess.
341 reviews2 followers
August 26, 2021
Give me book 2!

Ok why would you end it that way?
A friend recommended this book and WOW! So glad I read it. Dakota covers all bases in this enemies to lovers back to enemies, I hope there will be a HEA! I really want to see Tabitha and Jordanna take the high spot of Queen bee and over throw Bella! And then there's Logan.... I hope there's some deep meaningful grovelling and growth from him! And I have to know what was in the envelope Logan gives her!
Profile Image for Ashley.
416 reviews14 followers
November 10, 2021
What a debut start to what I imagine to be a great series. Logan is the King of VDU and Jordanna is just a pawn in a game with his friends. He ends up falling in love with her and doesn't know how to get out of the game. Jordanna doesn't realize she's in a game and when she does, she'll prove she's the true queen. Book 2 ends on a major cliffhanger and I'm waiting on baited breath for the next one!
Profile Image for Nicole.
288 reviews64 followers
September 25, 2023
Wow! Ok cruel intentions is one of my favorite movies & this was such a good book that has so many similar themes to it. I loved everything! My heart was happy and then broken and then hurting. This was a perfect “I dare you” book! I think this trope can get tricky but this was done so well. I loved this couple from the very beginning and I verbally gasped at the very end bus scene. I cannot wait to see what’s next for them and I’ll be starting the 2nd book tonight.
Profile Image for Taye Steele.
Author 14 books48 followers
September 29, 2023
Wow. So good

I don't even know what to say about how much I loved this novel. It was a recommendation from a friend and I'm so glad I took it. At first I struggled to connect with the FMC and her holier than thou attitude, and I am still hoping I get some additional background on these characters, but Bella was just peak Katherine Meurtel- so I absolutely loved the villain who was written so perfectly.
Profile Image for Olga Reyes.
7 reviews
May 12, 2021
Beautiful prince was a can’t put down until you finish book. The main characters Logan and Jordiana had great chemistry but started off on the wrong foot. Logan is a alpha male and you can’t love but root for him. He doesn’t believe in love and has a ulterior motive for wanting to get close to “Jordy’. Great read end in a cliffhanger.
Profile Image for Amy Reyes.
372 reviews9 followers
June 8, 2021
I loved the setting being in a university Instead of a high school. I did wish they didn’t act like they were in high school though. I really enjoyed the cat and mouse story of Jordanna and Logan. I only gave it 4 stars because I didn’t like the ending. I know it’s a cliffhanger but to me it was just too much. (Personal opinion)
725 reviews3 followers
June 11, 2021
I guess this book is a free adaptation of dangerous liaisons. It’s a bit slow that’s my main negative, but the game of cat and mousse between the characters is interesting enough to make me want to read the 2nd book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Anita.
125 reviews1 follower
September 25, 2023
I can’t believe more people haven’t read this book, yes I have read similar books but there’s always going to be books that make you think of others you have read before it but I loved this book. I never got bored and loved all the characters in the story. If you like reading books about bets, jealousy and watching the main character fall for the girl then don’t pass this book up.
Profile Image for TheStokkeLife.
105 reviews
August 25, 2021
This story will break you it is a bully romance and as much as you love everyone involved except Bella fuck that bitch. Dakota does such an amazing job creating each charter the writing is amazing. A must read!
Profile Image for VoraciousReader.
2,013 reviews
October 5, 2023
Logan stood by and watched someone literally choke Jordanna almost to the point of unconsciousness and did nothing. He's a steaming piece of dog crap and I'm not interested in reading a series where he is the "romantic hero" and Jordanna is stupid enough to fall in love with him.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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