Queen Charlotte by Julia Quinn and Shonda Rhimes

Queen Charlotte by Julia Quinn and Shonda Rhimes -- 352 pages

“We are one crown. His weight is mine, and mine is his…”

In 1761, on a sunny day in September, a King and Queen met for the very first time. They were married within hours.

Born a German Princess, Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz was beautiful, headstrong, and fiercely intelligent… not precisely the attributes the British Court had been seeking in a spouse for the young King George III. But her fire and independence were exactly what she needed, because George had secrets… secrets with the potential to shake the very foundations of the monarchy.

Thrust into her new role as a royal, Charlotte must learn to navigate the intricate politics of the court… all the while guarding her heart, because she is falling in love with the King, even as he pushes her away. Above all she must learn to rule, and to understand that she has been given the power to remake society. She must fight—for herself, for her husband, and for all her new subjects who look to her for guidance and grace. For she will never be just Charlotte again. She must instead fulfill her destiny… as Queen.

Royally Remembered by Emma Chase

Royally Remembered by Emma Chase -- 118 pages

The lives of the Wessco royal family have always been extraordinary. Abounding in power and wealth, and marked by moments of soul-searing passion, exquisite love, and tragic loss.

In this collection of short stories, set during the time period of the Royally books and beyond, we explore the moments that helped shape these characters into the irresistible heroes and heroines readers have come to know and cherish. We meet Prince Nicholas and Henry's parents, Prince Thomas and Lady Calista; we see the struggle to balance family relationships with the demands of the monarchy; and we continue the story of Queen Lenora and Prince Edward, whose deep, abiding love lasts beyond a lifetime.

Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore

Bringing Down the Duke (A League of Extraordinary Women #1) by Evie Dunmore, 368 p.
 

"England, 1879. Annabelle Archer, the brilliant but destitute daughter of a country vicar, has earned herself a place among the first cohort of female students at the renowned University of Oxford. In return for her scholarship, she must support the rising women's suffrage movement. Her charge: recruit men of influence to champion their cause. Her target: Sebastian Devereux, the cold and calculating Duke of Montgomery who steers Britain's politics at the Queen's command. Her challenge: not to give in to the powerful attraction she can't deny for the man who opposes everything she stands for.

Sebastian is appalled to find a suffragist squad has infiltrated his ducal home, but the real threat is his impossible feelings for green-eyed beauty Annabelle. He is looking for a wife of equal standing to secure the legacy he has worked so hard to rebuild, not an outspoken commoner who could never be his duchess. But he wouldn't be the greatest strategist of the Kingdom if he couldn't claim this alluring bluestocking without the promise of a ring...or could he?"--Goodreads blurb

Not my usual genre, this book looked (yes, great cover) and sounded fun and interesting. I was both of those things, but it was also a pretty run-of-the-mill historical romance. While there is nothing wrong with that, it doesn't have me wanting to pick up the next book of the series. Worth the read for Annabelle's wit and her willingness to go toe-to-toe with the Duke, it was a quick and fun read.

Royally Yours by Emma Chase

Royally Yours by Emma Chase -- 313 pages

Princess Lenora Celeste Beatrice Arabella Pembrook had an unusual childhood. She was raised to be a Queen—the first Queen of Wessco. It’s a big deal. When she’s crowned at just nineteen, the beautiful young monarch is prepared to rule. She’s charming, clever, confident and cunning. What she isn’t… is married. It’s her advising council’s first priority. It’s what Parliament is demanding, and what her people want. Lenora has no desire to tie herself to a man—particularly one who only wants her for her crown. But compromises must be made and royals must do their duty. Even Queens. Especially them.

Years ago, Edward Langdon Richard Dorian Rourke, walked away from his title and country. Now he’s an adventurer—climbing mountains, exploring jungles, going wherever he wants, when he wants—until family devotion brings him home. And a sacred promise keeps him there. To Edward, the haughty, guarded little Queen is intriguing, infuriating…and utterly captivating. Wanting her just might drive him mad—or become his greatest adventure.

Within the cold, stone walls of the royal palace—mistrust threatens, wills clash, and an undeniable, passionate love will change the future of the monarchy forever. Every dynasty has a beginning. Every legend starts with a story. This is theirs. 

Royally Endowed by Emma Chase

Royally Endowed by Emma Chase -- 275 pages

Logan St. James is a smoldering, sexy beast. Sure, he can be a little broody at times—but Ellie Hammond’s willing to overlook that. Because, have you seen him?? Sexy. As. Hell. And Ellie’s perky enough for both of them. For years, she’s had a crush on the intense, gorgeous royal security guard—but she doesn’t think he ever saw her, not really. To Logan, Ellie was just part of the job—a relative of the royal family he’d sworn to protect. 

Now, at 22 years old and fresh out of college, she’s determined to put aside her dreams of pat-downs and pillow talk, and find a real life happily ever after. The Queen of Wessco encourages Ellie to follow in her sister’s footsteps and settle down with a prince of her own. Or a duke, a marquis…a viscount would also do nicely. But in the pursuit of a fairy tale ending, Ellie learns that the sweetest crushes can be the hardest to let go.

Logan St. James grew up on the wrong side of the tracks, in a family on the wrong side of the law. But these days, he covers his tattoos and scars with a respectable suit. He’s handsome, loyal, brave, skilled with his hands and…other body parts. Any woman would be proud to call him hers. But there’s only one woman he wants. For years he’s watched over her, protected her, held her hair back when she was sick, taught her how to throw a punch, and spot a liar. He dreams of her. Would lay down his life for her. But beautiful Ellie Hammond is off-limits. Everybody knows the bodyguard rules: Never lose focus, never let them out of your sight, and never, ever fall in love.

Royally Matched by Emma Chase

Royally Matched by Emma Chase -- 264 pages

Some men are born responsible, some men have responsibility thrust upon them. Henry Charles Albert Edgar Pembrook, Prince of Wessco, just got the motherlode of all responsibility dumped in his regal lap. He’s not handling it well.

Hoping to force her grandson to rise to the occasion, Queen Lenora goes on a much-needed safari holiday—and when the Queen’s away, the Prince will play. After a chance meeting with an American television producer, Henry finally makes a decision all on his own:

Welcome to Matched: Royal Edition.

A reality TV dating game show featuring twenty of the world's most beautiful blue bloods gathered in the same castle. Only one will win the diamond tiara, only one will capture the handsome prince’s heart. While Henry revels in the antics of the contestants as they fight, literally, for his affection, it’s the quiet, bespectacled girl in the corner—with the voice of an angel and a body that would tempt a saint—who catches his eye.

The more Henry gets to know Sarah Mirabelle Zinnia Von Titebottum, the more enamored he becomes of her simple beauty, her strength, her kind spirit…and her naughty sense of humor. But Rome wasn’t built in a day—and irresponsible royals aren’t reformed overnight. As he endeavors to right his wrongs, old words take on whole new meanings for the dashing Prince. Words like, Duty, Honor and most of all—Love.

Royally Screwed by Emma Chase

Royally Screwed by Emma Chase -- 276 pages

Nicholas Arthur Frederick Edward Pembrook, Crowned Prince of Wessco, aka His Royal Hotness, is wickedly charming, devastatingly handsome, and unabashedly arrogant; hard not to be when people are constantly bowing down to you. Then, one snowy night in Manhattan, the prince meets a dark haired beauty who doesn't bow down. Instead, she throws a pie in his face. Nicholas wants to find out if she tastes as good as her pie, and this heir apparent is used to getting what he wants.

Dating a prince isn't what waitress Olivia Hammond ever imagined it would be. There's a disapproving queen, a wildly inappropriate spare heir, relentless paparazzi, and brutal public scrutiny. While they've traded in horse drawn carriages for Rolls Royces, and haven't chopped anyone's head off lately, the royals are far from accepting of this commoner. But to Olivia, Nicholas is worth it.

Nicholas grew up with the whole world watching, and now Marriage Watch is in full force. In the end, Nicholas has to decide who he is and, more importantly, who he wants to be: a King... or the man who gets to love Olivia forever. 

The Selection (The Selection Series #1) by Kiera Cass

The Selection (The Selection Series #1) by Kiera Cass-327 pages

My sister gave this to me as a gift and I really enjoyed reading it. It is a teen dystopian novel unlike any other I have read. I enjoyed the Divergent series and the Hunger Games series, but I like this one even better so far. I am not usually into romance or reality tv, but this is so much more. I am looking forward to continuing the series and finishing it.

That Inevitable Victorian Thing by E.K. Johnston

That Inevitable Victorian Thing by E.K. Johnston - 330 pages

In a near-future where the British Empire never fell, the heir to the throne princess Victoria-Margaret is having one last summer before taking up her duties.  She is spending the summer in Canada as Margaret meeting new friends and being a regular person.  There she meets August and Henrietta who have known almost their whole lives that they were going to marry.  But in this world, people are genetically matched by computer to make sure they are good matches.  When Henrietta and Margaret check their genetic matches online, they discover something strange, unsettling, and wonderful . . .


It took me a while to get into this book.  The premise was interesting and the characters likable.  However, the writing just did not draw me into the story until nearly halfway through the book.  Still, I would recommend this book to those who enjoy historical or LGBT romances.

The Burning Sky by Sherry Thomas

The Burning Sky by Sherry Thomas  496 pages

Just before the start of Summer Half, in April 1883, a very minor event took place at Eton College, that venerable and illustrious English public school for boys. A sixteen-year-old pupil named Archer Fairfax returned from a three-month absence, caused by a fractured femur, to resume his education.

Almost every word in the preceding sentence is false. Archer Fairfax had not suffered a broken limb. He had never before set foot in Eton. His name was not Archer Fairfax. And he was not, in fact, even a he.

This is the story of a girl who fooled a thousand boys, a boy who fooled an entire country, a partnership that would change the fate of realms, and a power to challenge the greatest tyrant the world had ever known.

Expect magic.

The Raucous Royals by Carlyn Beccia

The Raucous Royals by Carlyn Beccia - 64 pages

This book looks at the rumors and myths surrounding various royals throughout history.  It asks the reader to determine whether the stories are true or false.

I read this book in preparation for a homeschool program I was presenting. I  found the book to be a lot of fun to read.  While a lot of the stories were familiar, there were some new ones I hadn't heard of before.  It also gave a lot of information and trivia about the various royals.

The White Queen by Philippa Gregory

                                   The White Queen by Philippa Gregory, 464 pages

Elizabeth Woodville is a woman of extraordinary beauty and ambition. Her mother is Jacquetta, also known as the mystical lady of the rivers, and she is even more determined to bring power and wealth to the family line. While riding in the woods one day, Elizabeth captures the attentions of the newly crowned King Edward IV and, despite her common upbringing, marries him in secret. 

When she is raised up to be his queen, the English court is outraged, but Elizabeth rises to the demands of her exalted position and fights for her family’s dominance. Yet despite her best efforts, and even with the help of her mother’s powers, her two sons become pawns in a famous unsolved mystery that has confounded historians for centuries: the lost princes in the Tower of London.

In this dazzling account of the deadly Wars of the Roses, brother turns on brother to win the ultimate prize: the throne of England.

*My curiosity was piqued when I saw the preview for the new miniseries The Red Queen, so I decided to try the first in the series. The White Queen was really enjoyable. I don't know much about Elizabethan times, so it was very interesting!

A Darker Shade of Magic by V. E. Schwab

A Darker Shade of Magic by V. E. Schwab  398 pages

Kell is one of the last Travelers - magicians with a rare, coveted ability to travel between parallel universes - as such, he can choose where he lands.
There's Grey London, dirty and boring, without any magic, ruled by a mad King George. Then there's Red London, where life and magic are revered, and the Maresh Dynasty presides over a flourishing empire. White London, ruled by whoever has murdered their way to the throne - a place where people fight to control magic, and the magic fights back, draining the city to its very bones. And once upon a time, there was Black London...but no one speaks of that now.Officially, Kell is the Red Traveler, personal ambassador and adopted Prince of Red London, carrying the monthly correspondences between the royals of each London. Unofficially, Kell is a smuggler, servicing people willing to pay for even the smallest glimpses of a world they'll never see - a dangerous hobby, and one that has set him up for accidental treason. Fleeing into Grey London, Kell runs afoul of Delilah Bard, a cut-purse with lofty aspirations, first robs him, then saves him from a dangerous enemy, and then forces him to spirit her to another world for a proper adventure.

But perilous magic is afoot, and treachery lurks at every turn. To save all of the worlds, Kell and Lila will first need to stay alive - and that is proving trickier than they hoped.

From Kiss to Queen by Janet Chapman

From Kiss to Queen by Janet Chapman - 404 pages

Jane Abbott was shocked when a plane crashed in a lake right in front of her.  After rescuing the pilot, she is abducted by him for her own safety.  Turns out the pilot is the heir to the Shelkovan throne.

This is a contemporary romance by Janet Chapman.  It is the first one of her books that did not have time travel or magic in it.  I think the book seemed dated in its views of women rights without those elements.  Other than that, it was a fun, quick read.

The Mirror King by Jodi Meadows

The Mirror King by Jodi Meadows  531 pages

Princess Wilhelmina is ready for her crown, but declaring herself queen means war. Her magic is uncontrollable and now there's a living boy made of wraith - destructive and deadly, and willing to do anything for her.

Caught between what she wants and what is right, Wilhelmina realizes the throne might not even matter. Everyone thought the wraith was years off, but already it's destroying Indigo Kingdom villages. Princess Wilhelmina's ability might be just the thing to help reclaim her kingdom - or ruin it forever.

Endure by Sara Larson

Endure by Sara Larson  310 pages

At last, Alexa and King Damian are engaged to be married. But their lives are far from safe. The kingdom of Antion is under siege, and Rylan is a prisoner of the enemy. Even worse, Alexa remains at the mercy of the evil Dansiian Rafe, who controls her mind and can force Alexa to kill or harm Damian at any moment. Despite this, Alexa is determined to rescue Rylan, which soon leads her far from Damian and deep into enemy territory.

When she arrives, what awaits her is deadlier than anything she could have ever imagined: an army of black sorcerers, and a horrifying plot to destroy the world as Alexa knows it. Will she be able to gather the strength to free herself, protect the love of her life, and save the land? Will there ever be true peace?

Arrows of the Queen by Mercedes Lackey

Arrows of the Queen by Mercedes Lackey  320 pages

Talia, a young runaway, is made a herald at the royal court after she rescues one of the legendary Companions. When she uncovers a plot to seize the throne, Talia must use her empathic powers to save the queen.

Wyrd Sisters - Terry Pratchett

Wyrd Sisters - Terry Pratchett - 368 pages

Pratchett often called on satire to fuel the roots of his stories, so if you're into Shakespeare, this is definitely one to pick up.  Here we meet the early coven: Esme "Granny" Weatherwax, Gytha "Nanny" Ogg, and Magrat Garlick. on their first escapade together (or, mostly together and hardly ever totally at odds with each other, really).  At stake is the future of a kingdom under the rule of a mad despot and his white hot iron wife, the destiny of a young man born to royalty but given to the stage for safekeeping, and three witches who are determined to hold it all together by very pointedly not interfering in the theatrical nightmare that unfolds.

I love this story because it shows us the beginnings of the friendship between Esme and Gytha, which over the course of the next several books develops past a simple professional rivalry into one of the most insightfully-written, entertaining, and well-developed friendships I've read in any fictional work.  This is a friendship that shakes the Disc in many ways over the course of the next several novels about their adventures, and to see the original conception of that friendship is ridiculously special.

A Creature of Moonlight by Rebecca Hahn

A Creature of Moonlight by Rebecca Hahn  313 pages

As the only heir to the throne, Marni should have been surrounded by wealth and privilege, not living in exile - but now the time has come when she must choose between claiming her birthright as princess of a realm whose king wants her dead, and life with the father she has never known: a wild dragon who is sending his magical woods to capture her.

Ignite by Sara Larson

Ignite by Sara Larson  289 pages

Alexa continues to harbor a secret love for the newly crowned King Damian, yet she remains by his side as his guard and ever committed to helping him rebuild Antion and reclaim the hope of Antion's people. However, when a new threat to Damian and his kingdom emerges, and blame is cast on the once friendly nation of Blevon, Alexa knows things are not what they seem. Once again the fate of her country hangs in the balance. Will Alexa be able to protect her king and uncover the true enemy - before it's too late?