By Linda Keir
Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice rating: 🌶️
Blurb
American pop singer Jennie Jensen is ready to marry the love of her life, England's Prince Hugh, but someone is determined to keep her from becoming a princess--any way they can. To give her fairy tale a happy ending, she'll have to play the royal game. Jennie Jensen is touring Europe, already living her dream, when Prince Hugh of Wales--the future King of England--appears at a gig and requests his favorite song. He's already smitten and soon, so is she. After a secretive, whirlwind romance, Hugh proposes, and when Jennie accepts, her world changes overnight. She's still learning to navigate the minefield of constant scrutiny, barbed social interactions, and royal protocol (there are rules about pantyhose), as she learns that not everyone in England is excited about the prospect of an American princess. When Jennie receives a threatening note, she can't help but see the parallels between herself and another young woman who struggled to adjust to royal Hugh's mother, Princess Penelope, who was killed in a mysterious plane crash. And as the threats to Jennie grow more serious, she digs into Penelope's past, discovering a woman who also suspected someone in the palace was out to get her. Was Penelope murdered? And is Jennie next? With the eyes of a nation on her as the royal wedding approaches, she's in a race against time to save her marriage ... and her own life. Both a charming love story and a thrilling mystery, The Royal Game reveals one woman's determination to find happily ever after--on her own terms.
Genre: Mystery
Read if you Like:
👑 Royalty
👑 Dual timeline
👑 Singer heroine
👑 American in British monarchy
👑 Heroine in danger
My Thoughts:
Story - I picked The Royal Game because I really enjoy a royal romance book. However, I think this is much more of a mystery than a romance. While I enjoyed it, I wouldn't recommend it to someone looking for a romance.
I liked Jennie and Hugh together but was sad we didn't get to see them falling in love. I could tell they cared about each other, but their relationship wasn't really relevant to the plot except that their relationship was the reason Jennie was involved with the monarchy. For this to be a true mystery romance I would have wanted their relationship to be a large part of the plot.
I was interested in the mystery of who wanted Jennie gone and how they were threatening her without leaving many clues. I did think it was interesting to hear Penelope's story at the same time. I think this story will really appeal to people who always wondered if Princess Diana was murdered and love royal conspiracy theories.
Spice - The Royal Game is closed door. There are kisses and mentions of intimacy but not open door steamy scenes.
Thanks to Blackstone Publishing for gifting me an eARC of this title. All opinions are my own.
Comments