TITLE: The Unlikely Heir
SERIES: Unlikely Dilemmas
AUTHOR: Jax Calder
NARRATOR: Gary Furlong
PUBLISHER: Self-published
LENGTH: 10 hours and 32 minutes
RELEASE DATE: October 2, 2025
BLURB:
What happens when the Prince of Wales falls in love with the prime minister?
My boring life working in an insurance call center in sunny California just took an unexpected turn. Thanks to my misbehaving relatives, I’ve leaped from obscurity to royalty as the new heir to the British throne.
But my welcome in England is about as warm as the weather. I arrive to discover a country horrified at the thought of an American version of Prince Charming and ready to revolt against the monarchy. I vow to my grandmother, the queen, that I will do everything possible to help her save the crown.
Unfortunately, royal life isn’t easy. From bewildering traditions, traitorous friends, and malevolent swans, the only thing I’m succeeding in is providing entertainment for the tabloids and social media trolls.
And then the broodingly handsome prime minister, Oliver Hartwell, bursts into my life.
With his meteoric rise from poverty to the most powerful man in the country, Oliver understands my current plight. Innocent messages of support turn into late-night chats—and unexpected feelings.
But there’s one major problem. The royal family must remain politically neutral at all times.
So how can I keep my promise to save the monarchy when I’m falling in love with the prime minister?
A forbidden romance filled with humor and drama featuring a bumbling Prince of Wales and a stern yet dashing prime minister, with a love that could transform a nation.
REVIEW:
Callum Prescott is 11th in line to the British throne – the little known son of the a deceased prince. But when the rest of the royal family is caught up in a legal and ethical scandal and are facing jail time. Needless to say, they are being disinherited and Callum has now moved up to first in line for the throne. He’s to be the new Prince of Wales. Say what???
Oliver Hartwell is the Prime Minister. He’s been at the helm during this near constitutional crisis and in his past he’s been staunchly anti-monarchist. He has worked well with the queen though and he’s interested to meet this new half-American heir. Callum is nothing like he expects. He’s the polar opposite of the entitled royal family who have betrayed both their position and the people’s trust. This disgrace is fueling a resurgence of the people to abolish the monarchy. And the family continue to embarrass the queen and make Callum’s road more difficult. Now it’s up to Callum and his half siblings, Nicholas and Amelia to shore up the royal family and do the right thing.
Callum has in no way been prepared for life in the fishbowl of the British monarchy and he’s been targeted by the tabloid and mainstream press. In addition, he’s being slammed in the court of public opinion for any perceived misstep – including not having a clear understanding of the different usage of English and American English. He tries to take it all in stride, but Oliver sees how much it hurts him and brings him down. Oliver likes Callum though and he attempts to help him. They have become good friends. But what he doesn’t realize is that there is a mutual attraction at work here. Until Callum kisses him.
This starts them down a new path. The crown must be politically neutral. There is no world in which the crown prince and the prime minister could ever be together. So what are they to do?? Neither has ever felt this way about anyone before and it’s an overwhelming feeling. It’s a feeling they don’t want to ignore. But what would happen if this secret relationship became known? And what about the rising anti-monarchy sentiment? How can they ever be together if they are both to do their duties?
Ok, ok. I know that this scenario is unlikely or maybe even unrealistic in the extreme. However, I think the author did a good job of making this relationship believable and worthy of a Happily Ever After – or as much as one can attempt in this day and age. I loved Callum so much. He’s a bit aimless before the royal family cocks everything up and he has to assume a position he never wanted. But he’s doing his best. He’s lost his one true support – his mother – and he’s trying to find his way. His is truly a fish out of water as he assumes the role that is now put before him. Oliver has been laser focused on his education, his career and his responsibilities. So much so that it’s already cost him his marriage – even if the marriage was far from perfect. But together, these two puzzle pieces fit together in such an interesting and unexpected way. Callum helps Oliver lighten up and see that there is joy to be found in the simple things. Oliver helps Callum see that he isn’t just the screwup he believes himself to be. He helps people in the way he is genuinely interested in them and doing what is best for all the people. Callum respects and loves his grandmother and accepts that he’s going to have to get used to being dissected and attacked by the press. Clearly having been raised in another country, he’s got a lot to learn about the country of his father – certainly more than he gleaned as a child visiting his grandmother over the years of his childhood. I will say I did not see the villain coming in this one but it was well done! Oliver and Callum are both driven to fulfill their duties, but eventually they realize that they have a duty to each other as well and they will need to find a way to be true to the love that they have finally found. The epilogue is sweet and funny and although many serious topics propel the story forward, there is plenty of humor here also. It’s a unexpected romcom vibe that pulled me in from the beginning disastrous date 😉 Highly recommended.
Gary Furlong does a tremendous job with this story. I absolutely adore this narrator! He moves seamlessly from British to American accents. His Callum is young and vulnerable and self-deprecating and sweet. His Oliver is a bit gruff and driven and hard-nosed – except when it comes to Callumn. The other characters (and there are MANY) are clearly articulated with distinct voices and I never had to wonder who was speaking. The heartfelt joy, love, fear and resignation were pitch-perfect. Even the zeal of the bad actors here was spot on. Mr. Furlong is at the top of his game here with a wide range of scenes, characters, emotions and accents. This could have been a mess in the hands of a less talented and seasoned professional, but this is truly a delightful audio treat! Bravo!
RATING: 
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