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This book is a collection of three thematically related novellas. Each one involves a princess, in some form or another, and the challenges they face. The first tale features a young Albanian princess living in California. She attends a local high school without letting others know she is a princess. She is a great softball player and a baseball fan, but her life changes when she meets one of her favorite professional ballplayers who seems to have lost his game. The second story is about an English princess whose father owns a large oil company that recently lost its oil. Her father's rival has plans to take over the company and marry the daughter, even if he needs to break the law to do so. However, the princess has other plans and travels to America with an idea to save the family business. The last story follows a young man who lives in New York. He is a librarian and has a fear of open water. His father was a rescue swimmer for the Coast Guard and drowned on a mission when the protagonist was nine. However, when his best friend wins tickets for free swimming lessons and gives them to him, he suddenly comes face to face with his fears and his beautiful swim instructor, an Olympic champion referred to as the Princess of the Water.
Each of these three novellas not only features a princess of some sort but also includes a romantic interest and a self-absorbed antagonist. The first story builds tension by including arrogant jocks and a kind-hearted pitcher who has had personal tragedy weaken his game. The princess in this tale is hiding her royal lineage. In some ways, it is reminiscent of The Princess Diaries. Even the paparazzi get involved. The second story is much more action-oriented and features fistfights and gunfights described with plenty of detail. The secret service agents and power-hungry villain could be pulled from an Ian Fleming novel. The third is less action-oriented than the first two but offers the most drama and well-rounded characters. It is reminiscent of an episode of Friends in that there is comedy, interesting characters, and poor timing when it comes to romantic interest.
Cinema uses a basic formula for the three stories but diversifies them enough that each stands on its own. He employs the device of having beautiful women fall for down-on-their-luck or nerdy guys, the typical "nice guys." His action scenes are interesting as they are written much as a play-by-play announcer might describe them. Some of the book's characters are a bit one-dimensional, but the characterization is spot-on in the third story. However, the overall effectiveness of the stories would have been enhanced by some additional editing. One thing readers will like is that the tales are well-paced. They move with purpose, but not excessive speed, from beginning to end. Each can be read in an extended sitting. Then the book can be put down until the reader is ready to dive into the next one. Overall, the stories all include likable characters with romantic interests and plenty of obstacles to overcome. They are characters easy to root for as they pursue their individual happy endings.