Rating: 👑👑👑👑👑

Beautifully written and kept me on the edge of my seat. I had some guesses of a follow up to the first book and the authors surprised me in the best way. Preorder Heir Affair now! It’s something you’ll want to read again and again! This was worth the wait and I absolutely hope there is a third installment though I hope it comes out sooner!!

Heir Affair picks up right where The Royal We left off. Bex and Nick are hiding out after their wedding pretending to be book sellers in an AirBnB. They are pulled out of this extended day dream when Queen Elenor is sick to find out the public now loves Freddie better and the family thinks Bex only exists to provide an heir. I loved seeing Bex work to figure out her place in the family and to develop deeper relationships. She uncovers a mystery I wasn’t expecting when she finds Princess Georginia’s letters in her new apartment. This book tackles hard subjects in a beautiful way, I really enjoyed getting to be a part of the world the authors created.

I loved The Royal We so much, I couldn't wait to this one!

The Heir Affair (pub. 7/7/20) follows Bex and Nick, now the Duchess and Duke of Clarence, after scandal rocks their royal wedding. Disguised, they escape to Scotland to try to outrun the scandal but are forced to return to London and face Nick's brother Freddie, the Queen, and the emotional wreckage they left behind.

This book was fully of witty banter, even coming from the Queen. She might be my favorite character. She's strong and honest, knows what she wants, has moments of vulnerability, and it turns out she's a Cubs fan. It was interesting to see the imagined life as part of the royal family, always in the public eye and people weighing in on private family relationships. Cocks and Morgan turned out to be eerily prescient, with an American marrying into the royal family since the first book was written and now Harry and Meghan choosing to leave the royal family at least in part due to paparazzi.

I do think the book could have been condensed. It was hard for me to get into until I was about 60% in. At first, it seemed like everyone was upset and wallowing. After it picked up, though, I was invested and wanted to know how everything would be resolved. This book is perfect for anyone interested in the royal family or wants to read about what comes next after "I do."

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for a copy of this book!

THE HEIR AFFAIR - Jessica Morgan
The Royal We – Book 2
Grand Central Publishing
ISBN-10: 1538715910
ISBN-13: 978-1538715918
July 2010
Young Adult Romance

Scotland and England – 2015

Iowa native Rebecca Porter (Bex) married heir apparent Prince Nicholas (Nick) of the royal Lyons dynasty. Before the end of her royal wedding, Bex and Nick’s former friend, reporter Clive Fitzwilliam, published a story that Bex had slept with Nick’s younger brother Prince Frederick (Freddie). He had a photo of Freddie leaving her apartment. Of course, it wasn’t true, but aspects of Freddie’s behavior infuriated Nick. Bex loves Nick, but she loves Freddie as a good friend. Now there is a serious rift between the two royal brothers and all of England thinks the American bride is an undeserving slut. Bex and Nick decided to escape their predicament. They took new identities with the help of wigs and went to a small town in Scotland. Nick, living and enjoying a somewhat normal life for once, watches the news and sees his father thrust Freddie into positions he should have been performing if he were in London. One of the four protection officers who followed them to Scotland comes to their front door and tells them they must return to London. Nick’s grandmother, Queen Eleanor, has suffered a heart attack, so the Duke and Duchess of Clarence must return to the public spotlight.

Queen Eleanor and her son Richard, Prince of Wales, make it clear they do not like Bex or think her a suitable person for her position. The news media and the public feel, and show, their disdain for her, again, with great impetus from reporter Clive. Nicholas and Frederick are stoically polite in public, but otherwise not speaking. It is a difficult situation, but Bex has a few friends and advisors to help her, and her twin sister and mother stay in touch via long-distance communications. More problems, unexpected twists, and disasters arise. Bex learns royal families are just as susceptible to duplicity as normal ones, and Bex’s favorite baseball team, the Chicago Cubs, even plays a part. Can anything turn this situation around?

This engaging story is divided into four sections called acts, and certainly much of what goes on is like theater. The story is from Bex’s viewpoint, and while very serious and melodramatic events take place, a thread of humor entertains the reader. I had not read the first book in the series, but had no problem understanding or being enchanted by this story.

Robin Lee

Holy. Romance. Pants. I know I wasn't the only person jumping up and down with excitement when the sequel to The Royal We was announced. Luckily, this was one of those sequels that lived up to it's hype. The Heir Affair started with a slow build, taking place in the immediate weeks where the The Royal We left off and takes the reader from there. While I was nervous that the slow build might continue for too long, Morgan and Cocks quickly reminded me that they were old pros and knew exactly what they were doing. The story line was amazing and took me on a wild ride, with turns I wasn't expecting. I loved getting to go back to my favorite characters and see them to continue to develop even more. This sequel was perfect and I can only hope to see more in The Royal We series.

I really enjoyed this and it kept me reading, which I can't say for most books I've read lately! This was a nice escape, though I wouldn't exactly call it a beach read. Everyone in this book has some rather deep issues that need to be sorted out and they can frequently be fairly awful to each other. It's a dysfunctional family and you get to see some of the ugly side of that. I enjoyed the mystery that was buried in this book and found Georgina interesting even though she isn't even alive in this book. I also wanted more of the supporting characters as they brought a little levity to the often heavy topics in the rest of the book. Overall, it gets four stars because I wanted to know what happened and the authors kept me reading. It wasn't as light of a read as the first book, but clearly that didn't stop me from finishing it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I may have let out an unladylike squeal when I found out I received an eARC of the sequel to one of my favorite romances back in 2015. I was more than happy to re-read The Royal We in preparation for this book and it was just as delightful and lovely as the first time I closed its covers.

And while The Heir Affair picks up almost right after the events of the first book, this ain’t really a romance. This is a capital D DRAMA: Bex and Nick are in hiding - even pretending to be other people - after the most public hellish wedding possible. It broke my heart after the beautiful, hope-filled conclusion of the first book to see these characters trying to put on a brave face in an impossible situation.

They are soon called back home to “The Firm,” and the drama doesn’t stop from there. I was most surprised about the characters we heard the most from and the ones that took a step back. Up to the plate, filling out even further as characters and proving more flawed and complex than perhaps initially thought; the Queen, Freddie, and Bex herself. Simmering quietly in the background: Bex’s twin sister, Lacey, Gaz-Cilla-Bea-Gemma (all lumped together as the Friend Group that Occasionally Pops Up From Time to Time), and Nick.

One thing I wished in the first book was that Nick had been more complex: he came across perfect and heart-throbby and swoony, if a little absent due to his royal duties. I think in my review of the first book I called him “a little too dreamy.” And while he has his vicious jealous monster moments in this sequel (of course he’d have some issues: the world just found out his brother and new bride Had a Thing) I still felt like I saw more of his brother Freddie than I did the prince-to-be. We see the way that Freddie has had to pick up the slack while Nick and Bex pretend to be other people and the bitterness and hurt that has grown from that. We see him struggle with his feelings and relationship with both Bex and Nick. We see Bex struggle with balancing her relationship with both brothers and trying to heal the hurt from all sides. We see Nick deal with the monumental press backlash from his wedding retreat, all while having to hide his hurt from both his bride and his brother. As much as I would have liked this love triangle to drama to go away, it does lead the forward direction of this book, and while I begrudgingly followed, it was hard not to get swept up in it all.

Another driving drama of the story is a deep dark family secret that I OF COURSE cannot spoil here (the real reveal happens so late in the novel that I feel like I can’t even hint at it). Leading up to it, we learn more about a very central character who played a surprisingly small role in the first book: the Queen herself. She and Bex actually wind up developing a very complex and interesting relationship. The authors do a great job here of making this matriarch seem at the same time sympathetic (the crushing PRESSURE of this kind of job?! And what it does for your relationships to the family and people around you) and horrible (how much of your humanity/moral code do you have to compromise to do what it takes to run a country and helm a dynasty?).

Then the family secret comes around and wallops everyone. The different parties involved retreat to process the ramifications of the overwhelming truth revealed, all while Bex and Nick are harboring a pretty devastating secret of their own. It’s such a big secret that it feels almost hypocritical of them to cast judgment on those involved in the family drama.

The book wraps up very quickly: storylines come to, if not 100% satisfying ends, then resolutions with interesting ramifications for all (side note: I can’t help but feel like there’s a set up for a third installment for Freddie? Since we spent so much extra quality time with him this book). The family secret is processed, dealt with from all parties involved, and set aside for a final scene that wraps everything in a nice bow. I want to again point out that this sequel is not a romance. It deals with some deep, dark issues that face a lot of people who fall in love, who are newly married, who have a job or larger responsibility that takes a toll. It may not be what I was expecting, having loved the lovely relationships created in the first book and the romance that was the backbone of it all, and having a lot of those relationships set on the back burner for this story. But I still had an emotional response and felt a lot of love for these characters as they went through the next chapters (pun intended?) in their lives.

3.5⭐️

When I saw the announcement that this book was being published, I have never added a book to my “want to read” list so quickly. I didn’t read the plot synopsis, I didn’t need to because I was already all in.

Rebecca “Bex” Porter said “I do” to her Prince, literally. However Bex and Nick soon learn that happily ever after might only be something that happens in fairy tales. In the beginning of “The Heir Affair”, we see the newlyweds escaping their royal reality in Scotland, trying to evade the scrutiny of the press after their ex-friend Clive released the news to the world that Nick’s brother, Freddie, and his new bride may of had an affair prior to their historic nuptials. As much as they wish, they can’t run away from their problems, or their duties, forever. Including what the nation expects next from them: an heir.

I was 100% expecting this book to be about Freddie’s romantic journey (the first book was Will and Kate fanfic, and I don’t think I was too out of line to be expecting for Harry and Meghan to be given the same treatment). However, I was not expecting after a 5 year break between the two books for it to pick up literally where “The End” left off.

I won’t lie, I have very conflicting feelings about this book. If you’re looking for something frothy, light, and fun, this book is not it. This book is messy and it is complicated, yet it is an entirely compelling read.

The main problem of the first book comes back to haunt me in this sequel. Bex and Nick’s love story in “The Royal We” mainly happened off the page. The foundations of their relationship were never really explored, and then the story jumps forward in time and right into their relationship problems. Because of that it is so hard to root for their romance because we never really got to know Nick.

One of my main issues with this series is how toxic the relationship between Bex and Nick is. There is a lot of backsliding into bad habits and relationships, a lot of “tit-for-tat” to get back at the other person, and a lot of communication issues. I can’t root for them because it doesn’t feel good rooting for an obviously unhealthy relationship.

It is doubly hard to get behind them when the authors seem to keep setting up Freddie and Bex as romantic interests. On the page they have so much more chemistry and genuine connection than Bex has ever had with Nick. There were times when it was actually painful to keep reading this book because Freddie deserved so much better than the storyline he got in this. It was hard being on the wrong side of a love triangle. #TeamFreddie4Ever

However, this book is just as engaging as the first. You can’t help but to keep turning the pages to see what twists and turns Bex has to deal with. I loved in this one seeing the development of Bex’s role as she gets folded into The Firm (aka the Royal Family). And how her relationship with those members grows and changes.

Ultimately, this book was a bittersweet follow up to a story that probably should have been left alone.

I don't know what it is specifically about these books, but I just get sucked in and don't want them to end! I fall in love with the characters and just enjoy the royal ride. I started this story thinking we were going to follow Freddie's storyline, but it was still very much Nick and Bex's book number 2! In this story we delve into the aftermath of the first book, learn more about the history of the royal family, see a different side to Queen Eleanor, and live the royal life all the while navigating through some rather difficult situations that Nick and Bex find themselves in.

I loved this story, and I secretly hope we get a third installment. I don't know what the plot would be, but I would honestly follow them anywhere!

This sequel was not what I'd been expecting, but it was somehow everything I wanted from a return to this series! Seeing the next chapter in Nick and Bex's lives was a total delight. Like in its predecessor, Cocks and Morgan masterfully handle time with small skips and jumps that give some scenes a sense of hindsight while others feel very raw and urgent and the book covers a fairly long period of time without ever feeling long, just rich and immersive. Cocks and Morgan's years of covering the royals is on full display, and readers of their blog, Go Fug Yourself, will certainly recognize some of their signature royals coverage peeking through, there is definitely "eye-banging" on tour and some fabulous sartorial descriptions. I'm also pretty sure Cocks and Morgan must be royal psychics, like an American marrying into the royal family years after the Royal We was published, events in this book somehow once again foreshadowed events for the real life royals! I would recommend this one for fans of the royal family and anyone who loves The Crown.

This was a great follow-up to the first book in the series—similar sense of heart and pure escapism. I loved how it picked up so well and seamlessly after The Royal We. And it was fascinating reading about what happens AFTER the romance is already established since so many romance novels are focused on the beginning.

A great sequel to The Royal We. The story picks up right where we left off, at the disaster scene of Bex and Nick's wedding. However, The Heir Affair covers several year and life events, without feeling rushed (maybe because it is over 400 pages). I felt more connected to Nick and Bex's relationship in this book - we spend more time with just two two of them and see them weather ups and downs together.

While The Royal We is centered on their courtship, The Heir Affair dives much deeper into the obligations of royal life and the relationships with other royal family members. Of course, there are still plenty of dramatic reveals and plot twists, as you'd expect from this series.

I received this eARC free in exchange for a review from Grand Central Publishing and Netgalley.

I have anticipated this novel for so long; let me tell you: it delivered. Wow... it has taken me a while to come to terms with the rollercoaster I just stepped off of when I closed the book. I thought its predecessor, The Royal We, was a ride.. this one was a ride that I didn't want to end.

Here are some things I absolutely loved:
I loved Eleanor and her character development throughout this book. Wow, what a sassy queen she was. I appreciated the development of the other character/story arcs that are introduced in this book as well; this one felt like it stepped more away from a fictionalization of Will and Kate into a realm of new characters and new personalities. It felt tied to our perspective of a semblance of british royalty, but also its own unique story.

I loved the difficult storylines that entered; whereas I felt like The Royal We was a perfect light and fun read, this one had more depth and definitely more emotional turmoil.. but there is also redemption and joy. I appreciated the range of life experiences that are represented in these nearly 500 pages (which flew by).

There are some parts that I wish had turned out differently, which I don't want to spoil for readers of this review. Basically, I wanted to see more of an independent leading lady; however, her role in the book was more of a mediator due to the circumstances of the novel.

This book was definitely a treat and a wonderful sequel to The Royal We. I thoroughly enjoyed the journey... Thank you so much to Grand Central and Netgalley for the advanced copy; it was an honor to read and review this title!

I have waited for this book for FIVE YEARS people. I went in with little expectations but a few ideas of where I thought this story could go. I have to say...the authors took me totally by surprise, once again. I enjoyed revisiting these characters but felt a little frustrated by the repetitive themes from some characters. But I did really enjoy this book! I think writing a sequel is so hard, especially when you didn't intend to write one but did so for your fans. This is a look into the lives of Nick and Bex after their happily ever after. It's real, it's drama filled, and it has some heart warming moments. I didn't love it as much as the first, but that's a tall order! I hope we get a book three because I just love them so much. I'll take any piece I can get!

We rejoin our hapless Duke and Duchess as they hide from the fallout of their disastrous royal wedding - living on the lam, using wigs and pseudonyms to go undercover in Scotland. When they finally return to the rest of the royals, they have to deal with the even more difficult interpersonal fallout. This book is no light and fluffy read, full of thorny relationship problems without quick and easy answers - sibling rivalry, unrequited love, infertility, long-past affairs - but it is still somehow extremely funny! That is due entirely to the authors' amazing humor, honed over the years at their blog. I adored every moment reading about this hot mess of a royal family, and would gladly return again if every they wrote another!

This was a very convincing glimpse into the lives of the royals, from the POV of an American who married a British prince...apparently the authors are prescient! Plenty of drama and romance. As a sequel, it did not disappoint.

*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me this eARC in exchange for an honest review. The issues I had with this book were much the same as the ones I had with the first book. It was entirely too long. This was an almost 500-page book that just didn’t need to be. I wanted a fun royalty romance, but that’s not at all what this was. This book made me cry several times. It was heartbreaking and sad, but also full of friends and family and so much love. I loved the relationships. They’re complex and messy, like most real relationships are. I thinks that’s what I liked most about this book. The relationships, though most aren’t anything like what royalty must deal with, had real and serious problems.
This book covered real issues like miscarriages and infertility, which I really liked. I’ve never dealt with either of these, but from an outside perspective, I thought they were handled well. I thought they were thoughtful and full of emotion. I cried several times while reading this story.
Overall, while the story was long, there were so many different and interesting plotlines that I was engaged and entertained for the whole story. I enjoyed this one more than I did the first book, but I still think it was too long.

Finally, a sequel to The Royal We! This was lots of fun, especially with the inside look on what it might be like to be part of the (fictional) royal family. This is a great book for anyone who can't get enough of Meghan Markle, Kate Middleton, and the rest of the British royals. And, of course, for anyone who enjoyed The Royal We and can't wait to see what happens next.

#Partner PUB DATE 7.7.20Thank you to Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for a chance to read this free ARC. 

THE HEIR AFFAIR is the long awaited sequel to THE ROYAL WE and it is so.much.fun. While it's been 5 years between books, the latest book begins right where the first one left off.  Before you ask-  Yes. In my opinion you'll get more out of the sequel if you read The Royal We first.
This sequel is still full of regal drama, expectations, and tension, but it takes a different angle. We get to see the fallout from past decisions while navigating the path ahead.  It was pure entertainment and just as royally dishy as the first. I absolutely loved getting to learn more about snarky, spitfire Queen Eleanor. She is a treat! 

If I had one criticism it would be the length. At nearly 500 pages, some of the passages with detailed information about the ins-and-outs of royal life began to feel like filler. I was ready to get back to the nitty-gritty, but all you Royal superfans will love it!

This arc from Netgalley is in need of a heavy edit. For a book that I’ve been wishing for since before I even finished the first, this was a disappointment. Transitions between scenes were abrupt; characters just popped into the story from continents away without explanation for paragraphs. I repeatedly had to go back and check to see who the speaker was and once it never was specified. Suddenly, Bex was just speaking with the Queen, although it was never mentioned that the Queen was in the room. At one point it seemed as if they simply transcribed Middleton’s engagement calendar with little exposition.

The second half was more solidly written. The storyline in the beginning was a bit tedious without enough differentiation from the inspiration to be intriguing. It seemed like they were just flushing out some tabloid stories. Once it began to branch out the book picked up.

It did seem like some plot lines were dropped. Why were Gaz and Cilia so standoffish at the competition?

The Queen’s sudden personality change seemed like a very convenient plot crutch.

There was really very little romance in a book about two people in love. It seemed I was reading a book about friendship rather than romance.

We were told quite often that Bex was bored with nothing to do but never shown it. Maybe now that we’ve all spent weeks in isolation, you can go back and show, don’t tell.

If the story is going to be this tedious, try a change in perspective.

The characters other than the main ones felt very flat and one dimensional.

Just as delightful and effervescent as The Royal We! I'm a long time reader of the authors' blog; their humor, wit, and kindness absolutely shine through with this novel. I've already made many friends incredibly jealous with this eARC and was more than happy to let them know that the sequel is just as delicious as the first. What a wonderful escape from the current state of affairs!