Anita Ojeda 
You won’t want to miss the final title in Grace Hitchcock’s American Royalty series. I didn’t want the series to end.
What IS American Royalty?
No, there are no members of the American royalty. As a democratic republic, we outlawed titles of royalty in Article 1, Section 9, Clause 8.
“No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.”
U.S. Constitution
That doesn’t mean Americans have ever lost their fascination with royalty (especially British royals). And during the Gilded Age (especially in New York City), many very wealthy people started to treat each other as royals. Debutant balls, social seasons, and extravagant parties, mansions, and dress typified the era.
While I enjoy a good story from the era, I never lose sight of my own royal standing: I am a child of the King of Kings. Meanwhile, it’s fun to dream about fancy clothes, sparkling gowns, and heroes who swing from the rafters.
His Delightful Lady Delia (American Royalty #3)
By Grace Hitchcock, Bethany House Publishers, October 25, 2022, 367 pages.
For the past five years, Delia Vittoria has practiced hours upon end to prepare for the day she could take the lead role in an Academy of Music’s opera performance. Delia, as the understudy, has her chance to shine when her mother loses her voice.
In her debut moment, Delia captures the imagination of the opera-loving world. Her beautiful voice and deep emotion bring the character she plays to life. All the pain of her childhood and rejection by her father fuel the pathos of her performance.
But how does a daughter find a place to shine if it means displacing her diva mother?
Kit Quincy loves opera and never misses opening night. But when his sister sends an urgent message to him during the first act, he leaves before the diva’s understudy makes her way onstage. Kit’s sister wants Kit to go to his mistress’s house and bring her husband home.
When he knocks on Lady Vittoria’s door, Kit mistakes Delia for her mother and accuses her of wrecking homes and having loose morals. He vows to do whatever it takes to earn the lady’s forgiveness when he realizes his mistake.
On their own, Delia and Kit may never have crossed paths again. But the scheming patronesses of the Academy of Music devise a plot to revive the Phantom, boost Delia’s career, and save the Academy from its upstart rival, the Metropolitan Opera House.
Delia and Kit reenact scenes from long ago when a phantom wooed Delia’s mother and secured her place as a diva. Each encounter makes Delia trust Kit more. She struggles to remind herself it is all an act.
But is it? When a second phantom swoops onto the scene, Delia’s life seems endangered, and Kit vows to keep her safe.
Why I Loved This Book
Grace Hitchcock brings to life the early history of opera during New York City’s Gilded Age when money and a good family meant everything. Kit Quincy has both. Delia has a divorced mother who harbors secrets and tells half-truths. Can two unlikely heroes fall in love with each?
Readers can enjoy His Delightful Lady Delia as a standalone novel, or they can read the first two books in the American Royalty series. Kit Quincy, a confirmed bachelor who entered the competition for Willow Dupré’s hand in marriage, discovers love hasn’t passed him by. Delia learns to trust God’s plan for her life—even if the plan involves marriage.
Humor, romance, and a touch of melodrama keep the reader engaged through the last page. Fans of Jen Turano will love this book.
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