General Clayton Elliott, Home Office Undersecretary and new viscount, gets suspicious when London is too quiet. Everyone says that the anarchist group, Sceptre he's been fighting died when its leader, the Marquis of Hawking was executed but his instincts say just the opposite. Then he meets Her Serene Highness Princess Cordelia of Monrovia. Resigned to doing her duty for her country, she is in London to make a match with a royal duke and as a royal princess, she has no say in which duke she'll marry. Then she is shockingly attacked at a party, Clayton saves her & becomes her bodyguard. Then there is another attack & the pair flee London
The sixth & final book in the series, which could be read on its own but to fully appreciate it I’d recommend reading in order plus the series is seriously good. Strong characters, a fast paced story & a lovely mix of fact & fiction had me engrossed in this lovely romance plus there was the mystery surrounding Spectre to be fully revealed. There were twists along the way, which added to my enjoyment but it was the relationship between Clayton & Cordelia, which was so romantic. I loved how their feelings grew & deepened. He was swoon worthy from being so protective to melting my heart when he sat back whilst she ‘made’ a meal. Cordelia grew in confidence but also became the woman she wanted to be. But a Princess & the son of a murderer how could they have their HEA? You’ll have to read to find out what happens
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

“Lords of the Armory” is a series about former soldiers of the Napoleonic wars who initially created a place of solace for ex combatants who didn’t know what to do with their lives after Waterloo but some of them, an elite of them, ended up under the employ of the Home secretary and now they work as spies or secret service to unveil and fight Scepter, a secret group of extremists who want to overthrow the status quo by killing the Prince Regent and the Prime Minister, Lord Liverpool.

In this, the sixth book of the series, our hero is Clayton Elliot, one of the main leaders of the Armory who works as undersecretary for the Home Office. He had saved the lives of the Regent and Lord Liverpool in the previous book, and managed to cover the attempted assassination with a citizens riot, so no one nows why all of a sudden Prince George has given him the rank of general and why is he a favorite in the court. Everything has been kept a secret or covered since everyone who is in the known believe that Scepter are over and done with the demise of their leader. But Clayton has a feeling that another leader will rise and the band will regroup and try again.

Princess Cordelia of Monrovia is in England to be offered in marriage to one of the Royal dukes (Prince George’s brothers) to seal the relationship between her country and England. She feels like a swan in a gilded cage but she knows her duty and she has been brought up by her uncle, Crown Prince Ernest, to behave and do what must be done at all times. Her motivations aren’t entirely selfless, since she wants to do it for her people who, she is convinced, were betrayed by her late father, who was the Crown Prince before Albert and who died with his wife in an accident.

There’s a welcome ceremony for the Prince and his niece at Carlton House and Clayton was invited, only to find himself protecting the princess from a false footman who threatened her life with a knife to the throat. From that moment, Prinny appoints Clayton as the responsible for the protection of the princess, but also from that moment, neither Clayton, nor Cordelia can take their eyes off each other.

I wonder if Anna Harrington created Cordelia as an homage to my favorite Audrey Hepburn movie “Roman Holiday”. Her opening scene is a recreation of Princess Ana (Hepburn’s Character) bedroom scene, when she is told of all of the next day’s activities and she calls her daily routine “The program”. In that scene Ana opens a window and sees Rome at night, with its life, its music and its people enjoying the good weather, and she dreams of having at least one day of normalcy, one day in which she could have an ordinary woman’s life. Cordelia is just the same, only her adventure is much more dangerous than Ana’s because someone wants to kill her. Cordelia doesn’t think she has such an important role in anybody’s life, her only fate in life is to marry a royal duke and have children for England. If only for a moment…

It’s Clayton who gives her just that. The normalcy, he treats her with respect and consideration but not in the way courtiers and admirers treat her but like a human being who feels and think and whose opinion is as valid as everyone else’s. For Clayton she is a magnificent woman, not ordinary at all because she’s so smart and brave and beautiful. She overcomes incidents and “accidents” with courage, not because she’s not terrified at all, but because he gives her strength and encouragement. He admires for who she is, and the more time they spend together the more he feels he is losing his heart for her. There’s a key moment when he has to decide if he would forget his personal mission of uncovering and destroying Scepter or give his life to protect her if necessary. I always thought that Clayton was a bit of a pain, but in this book he reveals himself to be a man of honor, duty and heart. There’s nothing he wouldn’t do for her or to keep her safe, even if that means that he’ll be considered a traitor to the Crown.

Once again Anna’s style of writing is incredibly direct and straight to the point. She gets you invested in her stories and characters by refusing to fall into lyricism or artifices. She doesn’t mince words but doesn’t use more than she needs to, she’s very precise but don’t get me wrong, she delivers every time. She compensates the lack of ingenuity or beauty by providing a good amount of angst and excitement. She’s not the spiciest writer that I have ever read but she treats these few moments with care and delicacy. Her books are full of action and intrigue yet the moments of intimacy are full of vibrant emotion. She knows how to engage her readers and she does that masterfully. Honestly I had a lot of fun reading this book.

A Problem Princess is the sixth installment in the thrilling Lords of the Armory series. This captivating novel offers a delightful blend of romance and adventure as Scepter faces its ultimate challenge, albeit at a great cost. The story features endearing characters whose chemistry is sure to leave readers swooning. Harrington's writing style is engaging, making for an enjoyable read. The romance between the two protagonists is sweet and heartwarming, leaving readers rooting for their happily ever after. Harrington's skillful storytelling and likable characters make for a truly satisfying and entertaining read.

3/5 👑

My first Lords of the Armory book (book 3 actually) came in a #readromancerepeat book box and I was like oh well now I need to read the whole series. And with this final installment, out April 11, 2023, I am finally done. It was an uneven series but I’m happy to know we’ve conquered the evil org Scepter.

In the 6th and final book, the brains behind the lords taking on Scepter, Clayton Elliott is our hero and he finds himself protecting, and falling for, Princess Cordelia of Monrovia. Scepter is trying to kill her! Oh no! Only the very sexy and smart Elliott can protect her. This was maybe the least steamy in the series with only 2 spicy scenes, but it was also the one that finally was like “oh yeah, the monarchy sucks, the royals are all terrible.” But then they of course preserve the monarchy and save them from evil Scepter anyway.

Thank you, lords of the Armory, for your service.

Spice: 2/5 🌶️
Tropes: class difference, forced proximity, bodyguard, princess needs saving, “it’ll fit”
More: m/f romance, historical, regency

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This wonderful story is a mix of romance and suspense. With a cast of characters that includes Cordelia, a princess, and Clayton a General, as well as my favorite two aunts who pretend to be ditzy. The plot is fantastic as it takes the reader on a wild ride through London and the British countryside. In a story with plots of murder and treason, the reader will never be disappointed. Cordelia finds Clayton is a superb protector as he keeps her safe while fulfilling all her dearest wishes. It is super romantic as the princess falls in love with her bodyguard and make both their wishes come true.

A new Anna Harrington novel is always cause for celebration. I’ve enjoyed every minute of her Lords of the Armory series, and this newest, and likely last, installment is a worthy ending. It’s the perfect combination of romance, intrigue, and action. I can’t think of a more fitting way to say goodbye to these characters, whether I want to or not.

Clayton Elliott has been a recurring figure throughout the series, the rising Home Office star who helps his longtime army friends track a treasonous organization threatening to overthrow the monarchy. He’s clever, strong, strategic, and entirely skeptical that they’ve taken down Scepter for good. Cordelia is a visiting foreign princess whose life is threatened, and Clayton takes on the task of protecting her from what he assumes is the return of Scepter.

Obviously, sparks fly whenever Clayton and Cordelia are in close proximity, and from here, there are two main plotlines. What we expect from romance: sparkling chemistry even as they insist they can’t be together, even as they start to realize all the things they have in common rather than just their differences. What we don’t: an increasingly dangerous plot to take out the Princess, who happens to be in the line of succession for the English throne.

Unlike in the previous novels, I found it a bit more obvious who the Big Bad was here, but Harrington creates suspense and doesn’t reveal the motive until late enough in the book that the threat always feels very real. Even though I was expecting a happy ending, there were moments when I was genuinely worried about the safety of both Cordelia and Clayton. I think the novel was just really successful in that way.

I’m sad to see this series end, but I really loved the romance that bloomed between Cordelia and Clayton. If we have to say goodbye to the Lords of the Armory, I’m glad we got to end on their story and wrap things up in a very satisfying way.

The end of Scepter, unfortunately also means the ends of the Lords of the Armory series. And what a series it has been, I devoured every book, anxiously waiting for the next, but now it is completed. Each book has been full of intrigue, danger, several dastardly villains, treason, and unlikely couples coming together. None more than the son of a convicted, executed murderer and a royal princess. Clayton Elliott, Home Office undersecretary, is convinced that Scepter did not die with the Marquess of Hawking. Forced to attend a royal affair where he ends up saving Princess Cordelia of Monrovia. It is just the beginning of their impossible relationship. No amount of attraction can overcome the fact that a commoner is just not for a princess destined to marry one of the royal English dukes. Cordelia is sometimes so unprincesslike that she is an enjoyable, likeable character. Clayton has always been a favorite of mine so I really routed for love to find a way for them, but I will not give away any spoilers to give away what happens. I loved this series and especially this book. So very sorry to see it end, but I am sure that this author has another great series cooking in her imagination.

General Clayton Elliott is investigating an anarchist group for the crown. When Princess Cordelia is attacked, he's appointed as her bodyguard. As the danger escalates, the two grow closer. Will their future be wiped out before it begins?

I liked the premise of this book—the royal dukes are looking to marry a foreign princess and produce an heir after the death of Princess Charlotte. Cordelia is doing her duty for the sake of her country with no expectation of personal happiness. Clayton is her one chance to experience passion and true affection before entering into a loveless marriage. Clayton doesn't feel worthy of her, but he'll doing anything to protect and care for her. She's no damsel in distress, though—the two of them work together to bring down their enemies. It's a steamy and emotional Regency romantic suspense.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

I haven’t read all of the books in this series but I’m kinda planning to do that now.
I loved this book so much. From the wild and crazy idea of a bodyguard romance in a historical setting that I never read before to the fact that their mutual attraction and chemistry was there at all times and nothing felt forced throughout the story.
There are of course many suspenseful moments and so many other pieces of them growing as individuals and together. That’s what I liked the most, the parts where we get to know each other’s thoughts and they feel so real and make you high five when a big decision needs to be taken and they actually do what you’re hoping for.

A beautiful historical romance with lots of suspense and steam that I adored .

Clayton, so glad he got his own story. Anna has once again, not surprisingly, written another fantastic story. It is non-stop action. Just when you think something is going to work out, boom, something happens. I absolutely love this type of story. Suspense, Even though you can figure out the villain, but how will it work out, what will the villain do next, how is this villain really involved. Surprises! Yes! Anna’s writing is so superb and exciting.

The relationship between Clayton and Cordelia is so agonizingly nail-biting. The way Anna writes the relationship you feel like they are friends of yours. You are immersed into the story. I have to say that I cried for the last two chapters of the story. Anna, you sure knew how to pull tears out of me.

The other members of the Armory are also featured in this story. I loved that we go to see them and they played big parts in the suspenseful action. I am sad to see this series end. At least I think it is the end of the series.

If you are looking to be transported to a time where romance, adventure, and great banter between a wonderful witty, duty bound Princess and a driven, devoted General, than this is the book for you.
Anna Harrington has found the perfect recipe in “A Problem Princess” for mixing adventure, romance, and drama in such a way that will keep any reader, new or old to the genre, enthralled and wanting more. A must read for any lover of historical romance.

General Clayton, the Home Office Undersecretary, comes to the rescue of Princess Cordelia of Monrovia who was being attacked.

There is romance and suspense, with a few twists, before Cordelia and Clayton could reach their HEA.

I received a copy for review.*

The final book wraps up the series.
I liked Cordelia & Clayton. It was fun to see the other characters again.

Anna Harrington provides readers with a historical fiction tale that includes romance, danger, and suspense in A Problem Princess , the sixth book in the series. Set mostly in London, England in the spring of 1818, this novel features General Clayton Elliott, Home Office Undersecretary and new viscount, and Her Serene Highness Princess Cordelia of Monrovia. Princess Cordelia is supposed to visit London to make a match with one of the royal dukes. When she is attacked at a party, Clayton becomes her bodyguard. But who wants her dead? Is it related to the group Scepter who want to overthrow the English government and monarchy?

Cordelia is miserable, but resigned to do her duty to her country. Marriage is the best way to save Monrovia. She’s also intelligent and keeping secrets. Clayton is intelligent, a good fighter, blunt, direct, puts his life on the line for his country repeatedly, and has secrets of his own. The backgrounds of the two main characters are slowly revealed giving insight into their thoughts and behaviors. It was also great to reconnect with characters from the previous books in the series.

This book has a solid plot, with extraordinary characters, and a fascinating mystery. The author captured the cultural lifestyles of the times and brought them to life. With some unpredictable moments in the story, it gradually builds momentum until its action-filled conclusion. Besides the instant attraction and gradual romance between the two main characters, the author weaves in some deep themes related to duty, family, honor, power, trust, social classes, political unrest, reforms, and much more.

Overall, this was an entertaining and memorable novel with some pivotal stressful and emotional moments. I am looking forward to reading more from this author. The series is best read in order.

SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca and Anna Harrington provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for April 11, 2023.

Anna Harrington, how can you keep doing this to me?!? How can a series with SIX books have me scrambling to pick a favorite?!? Truth is, I can't. Anna's storylines, characters, and attention to detail are just that good. She blows me away every time. I love her books, and if she wrote a microwave instruction manual, I'd read it, too.

Without giving anything away, this is the action-packed conclusion to the Lords of the Armory series. This series--while romance-based--revolves around six men trying to hunt down and stop an anarchist group called Spectre. They are trying to overthrow the British government. In the process of trying to solve these crimes against the crown, these six men fall hopelessly in love with six amazing women, from widow spies, to princesses, to vigilante thieves, and I LOVE EVERY SECOND OF IT.

Firstly, you need to know this about Anna Harrington books: her attention to historic detail is unmatched. Seriously. I've never read a HR author take such care to get the details just right about the time period. That makes the romance, to me, more realistic. This conclusion to the series is the perfect amount of historical accuracy, swoon, action, and HEAT. Clayton and Princess Cordelia are the couple in this book, and I love how the author has them pretty much admit to their feelings AND that it can't go anywhere. One of my favorite parts of this novel was literally their first kiss. In the scene--at the very beginning of the book--someone has tried to kill Princess Cordelia and Clayton stops it in progress. Afterwards, he pulls he aside privately to ask her questions and to get as much information as possible. After a few questions, shaken by the recent event and desperate for compassion, she just reaches up and kisses him. He kisses her back, of course, and then they go on their way. Clayton volunteers to head her protection team, and Cordelia struggles with the life she's supposed to live, and the one that her heart tells her to go for. My favorite thing about the kiss is the mutual acknowledgment of attraction without being overruled by it. It was a very convincing and realistic approach to the bodyguard trope, and I loved it. (If you don't fall in love with Clayton, do you even have feelings?!!)

The Spectre storyline is wrapped up, and the action and mystery in this story is *top tier*. This is another 5-star read for me from Harrington. She really knows what she's doing.

A couple of other things:

1. I've been wracking my brain to try and pick a favorite book in this series. I literally can't do it. I love #3 and #5 the best, but each of them are perfection in their own way.

2. Have you ever read an author and think to yourself "This is 150% what they should be doing for a living"? That's Anna Harrington. She was born to write Historical Romance. For me, that means joining the ranks of Julie Anne Long, Mary Balogh, Grace Callaway, and Lorraine Heath. Harrington is right up there with them.

Overall, I can't recommend this series enough. Bravo, Ms. Harrington!!

**A huge thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for allowing me to read and review this book as an ARC**

This book was so fun! This book gave Princess Diaries 2 vibes, if Chris Pine's character was actually a bodyguard. The more wild stuff (i.e. assassination plots, plans for coups, etc.), made for a more fun book. Some parts dragged a little bit, but then picked up again once the external conflict was in full force again. I predict the twist pretty early on, but I was still eager to find out how the villain would get his comeuppance. The spice was good, I think it ended up making up for how long Clayton took to accept it was okay to want a relationship with Cordelia. This is the first book I have read from this series, so I am excited to go back and meet some of the characters mentioned in passing.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, Anna Harrington knows how to write spy romance. This was a great ending to a fun series. I would highly recommend this book for fans of the series and/or Anna's. I would suggest reading the series following up to this book to get the full scale and impact of this book even if it is considered a standalone. I was a little surprised how quickly straight-laced, stoic Clayton fell for our Princess Cordelia. Throughout the series he has seemed a bit of a lone wolf and not the most engaging yet somehow she quickly breached his walls.

I like how Harrington manages to take characters with similar backstories and gives it just enough of a twist to make it unique to them but still the two can relate and support each other.

There were some things in this book that didn't make sense always to me but I could have overlooked something. I kept waiting to find out who the mean people were to Cordelia that would lock her up but that never came out. If it was her family, I don't understand how she had such undying devotion to and love for them. The bit of the "twist" at the end was a bit of a shock. I like how it pulled everything from past books together. There is a lot of political intrigue in this book (and series) so if that is not your thing, you probably won't enjoy this book. Harrington also draws on true historical events which isn't seen enough in HR these days. So while the names and country are made up, they are loosely based on possibilities!

Lastly, I enjoyed seeing all the characters from past books reunite and support each other. It felt like a good ending for all.

Thank you Sourcebooks and NetGalley for the ARC.

I really enjoyed reading this book.

The two main characters are very likeable and there is a strong chemistry between them from the start.

The writer describes the era in the book very well, which is very important to really enjoy a historical romance. This gives it an air of authenticity.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the ARC.

I received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Princess Cordelia of Monrovia knows her duty is to marry one of the royal dukes to bring peace and stability to Europe, but as much as she knows her duty, she can't help but want to be free. When she is attacked at a party, General Clayton Elliot is assigned as her security detail. He believes that Spectre is still out there and is being controlled by someone in power. He just doesn't know who, and Cordelia's life depends on him discovering Spectre's secrets.

I read the second book in this series, and I was not impressed really at all. I didn't think I would ever read another one of Anna Harrington's books, but this cover and blurb drew me in. I do love a good royalty trope. I am so glad I did because this book completely changed my mind about her books. I am now a fan and can't believe I was ready to write her off after book 2. I loved that there was quite a bit of action, and the mystery while pretty predictable was still enough to keep me guessing throughout. I enjoyed both Clayton and Cordelia, and how their relationship built. There were real challenges to them being together, and not just the normal internal issues like I can't get married because love isn't real, or my parents are terrible and have ruined marriage for me. It made the payoff more enjoyable because they had to actually overcome things, and I do so love when a man falls in love first. Clayton was not afraid to show his love or be vocal about it. Overall, one of my favorite reads so far this year! A truly spectacular read.

I can't wait to get my physical copy of this book, and to go back and read some others by Anna Harrington.

3 1/2 stars. This works OK as a standalone as well as being a decent wrap-up to the series. I enjoyed the chemistry between Clayton and Cordelia, although their relationship is on the insta-lusty side and Clayton's reluctance to get involved with Cordelia romantically seems to turn a quick 180. I have to be honest, I love the cover (yes, I can be shallow) and I love a good spy plot but I'm not big on books that feature princesses, so I was a bit cynical going in. I felt that Cordelia was surprisingly forward with Clayton, considering her character bordered on "Mary Sue" territory. The moaning about duty at times got a bit tiresome, and the part of the book when she gives the outrageous behavior of royals and other heads of state a pass due to their strict upbringings elicited a snarky chuckle from me.

I did like Clayton; he was probably my favorite element of this book. He engaged my interest starting from page one. I thought the Sceptor/mystery angle would be more prominent in the first half, but that part of the plot is more focused on Cordelia's strained relationships with her uncle and staff. As the plot continues, there are your standard tropey scenes (why, in so many HR's, when the MFC is running, does she have to turn her ankle, forcing the MMC to assist her?). There's also a bit of repetitiveness in Cordelia's reactions. What saves most of the scenes with them together is Clayton's honesty and his emotional openness.

Everything was tied up neatly in the end, and although I was happy for Clayton, I think I would have been more shocked by the plot twist had the two baddies been more likable characters to start with.

Overall, though, this is a light, enjoyable read with level 3 steam, particularly in the last third.. Language is mild.

I read an advanced reader copy of this book and this is my voluntary review. Opinions are my own. Thanks to the author and publisher for this opportunity. Publication date: April 11.