Publication Date: March 11, 2025
Avery Montgomery, the “cursed” Princess of Clarence, has decided that the marriage treaty between her and the King of Trenton, Christopher Winters, is for the best. She may never catch her husband’s eye or hold his affection, but she knows that, like her, he is willing to do anything for the welfare of his people—even marry a complete stranger. However, after a kidnapping and an unlikely alliance later, Avery begins to question truth from deception. Will she be able to follow her heart and still save her people?
En route to a forced marriage to the King of Trenton, Princess Avery is kidnapped and begins to question her future.
Set in the early 19th century in a fictional royal world, Marked is a light African-American romance written by Chantol C. Aspinall.
Princess Avery does not have the stereotypical royal appearance. With a dark birthmark covering one side of her face and a plump figure, she’s been ridiculed by her own family.
Kidnapped and offered marriage to the king’s twin brother, Princess Avery starts debating fact vs. fiction. If her goal is to represent her people, then which future should she choose?
The concept seems interesting, but there’s not enough development at less than 100 pages. Since the two kingdoms are fictional, the time period also seems a bit out of place. The idea of an imperfect female main character is a good one, but to equip her with superior sword-fighting skills doesn’t quite match.
Marked offers a quick read focusing on good vs. evil.
Chantol is an island girl through and through, a lover of warm weather, clear skies, and beaches. She was born in Spanish Town, Jamaica, but spent most of her childhood in Nassau, Bahamas, where her sixth-grade teacher helped her discover her hidden passion for stringing words together on a blank page. She believes her writing has purpose and meaning and strives to use her truth and learned experiences to give hope and share love with the world around her. When Chantol’s not crafting another story, she’s working full-time as a registered nurse.