Prince Jameson and Dani “Duchess” Nelson fell in love in American Royalty, and now they are taking their romance public and navigating a relationship on their own terms, in spite of public scrutiny, in The Duchess Effect.

Dani has been making major strides in launching her skincare brand, Mela-Skin, and is well on her way to securing her own long term financial security. However, now that her personal life is garnering so much media attention, her backers want to involve Prince Jameson in the brand publicity or risk losing their support. Jameson has long since retreated into his role as university professor, but with increased public attention has been fired from the position. On top of that, the Queen, though initially against his relationship with Dani, wants to use their budding romance to distract the media from a family scandal.

Once again, all of the warm, fuzzy (and steamy) feelings are reminiscent of the real life romance of Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan Markle and I am loving every moment of it! I really enjoyed the portrayal of the media and the impact it has on the way Dani is expected to meet the public’s expectations of her regardless of the success she’s created for herself. Dani and Jameson are already an established couple coming into this novel, so their chemistry is sizzling right from the start!

You’ll Find —
Royal Romance
Scandal
Strong, Independent Heroine
Interracial Romance

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon, and Tracey Livesay for the gifted digital review copy!

I loved the pacing and the characters even when I found them frustrating. I think the fact that they were frustrating added value to the story. Making the queen layered was a great choice as well.
Also, I need more Nyla and Rhys

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
The Duchess Effect concludes the story begun in American Royalty, following the romance between Prince Jameson and rapper Duchess (aka Dani). While the first book left things on a pretty good note, there are still hurdles for them to work through, from him navigating his relationship with his family, and being expected to step up to help stamp out scandals the other members are creating, and Dani’s own career going from strength to strength, while the British press is determined to tear her and their relationship down. I rooted for them through it all, very much wanting them to just be able to escape and live life on their own terms.
I felt there was much more focus on the royal drama this time around, and how it upped the stakes around the romance and their increased media scrutiny. While again, the scandals are all fictional, it really helps to hit home how the Royal Family and “The Company” (as the book refers to the business side of the the RF), likes to use certain members as shields, with Dani’s relationship with Jameson getting a lot of unwarranted, racially charged backlash to cover up for the indiscretions of the Prince of Wales, a situation that will be familiar for many who are sympathetic to Harry and Meghan.
I also really liked seeing more of the family fleshed out. While some of them are still horrible, Calanthe is still sympathetic, and I saw a wonderful new side to Jameson’s aunt Catherine, and how she was screwed over by male-preference primogeniture (there’s no mention if the current rules in real life of absolute primogeniture have been instituted in any capacity in this alternate world). It’s nice to see that, while Jameson doesn’t want to be forced into a major role in the Company anymore, that doesn’t mean there aren’t people within it that thrive within it, and both sides are equally disdainful of those messing up the image of the Family as a whole.
This is a fun series, and I’d recommend it to people who enjoyed the first book and/or are looking for socially conscious Royal romances.

@tracey.livesay did it again! The Duchess Effect is every bit as good as American Royalty! It was so fun to be back in the world of Dani & Jay. Their relationship is as steamy as ever, but there’s even more working against them in this book - this miscommunication trope is at an all time high here. I loved that we got to meet more of the side characters & I’m officially begging for a Rhys & Nyla book 👀 feeling lucky to have had the opportunity to read an eARC!

I enjoyed this just as much as the first book. All of the heat and royal drama. I’d read a third book about them tbh. This review is for the ebook, but I listened to the audiobook as well, did a tandem read, and it was very well done too!

This story is simply spectacular! Tracey Livesay has hit it out of the park as a master storyteller. Starting with the gorgeous cover art, readers will be hooked as they begin to read. Duchess is an American rap star, and Jameson is a British Prince. With steamy scenes and witty dialogue, this is a great page turner. Duchess is fiery and raw. Readers will fall in love with her and James as they straddle the two lifestyles. Throw in interfering family members and a buzzing media presence things become complicated. This is a love story that brings delight. This story should not be missed.

Did we need this sequel? I'm not sure. Fans of Megan and Harry will likely enjoy this loose reimagining of their love story featuring a Black American pop star who falls for a reclusive member of the Royal family.

Prince Jameson and Dani "Duchess" are back with more complicated relationship and royalty problems and tons of STEAMY sex but overall it was just an okay read for me. The romance and chemistry between the characters just didn't move me like I wanted, especially with all the deception on Dani's part.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and Librofm for an ALC in exchange for my honest review!

If you're interested in royal politics and geopolitical issues, this book might fit your fancy. Jameson is your stereotypical prince and Duchess is your stereotypical rapper. I don't mean either of these in a negative way. For me, I didn't vibe with the characters but others might. I think moments of social commentary were on point, but it's hard to balance both as it's a royal romance.

I loved loved American Royalty. Dani, a rapper with a skin care line who is unapologetically herself, and Prince Jameson, the royal who just wants to be a professor, were really so much fun. Did I think they needed a whole other book? Not really. Was I going to read it anyway? Yes, obviously.

What I don't love in sequels is when people don't act in a way that makes sense for the sake of creating some angst in the story. I did not love the way Duchess chose to use Jameson for publicity, without telling him, because it made zero sense at all to me she wouldn't have given him a heads up. He adores her, clearly, unabashedly, he would have helped if she asked. Like I get that she's self made and doesn't like to ask for help, but the keeping secrets thing was blah.

Can I get a book with Rhys next though? He was really giving me fun vibes of hotness.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Duchess Effect is the sequel to American Royalty. Jameson and Dani are struggling to manage their relationship. Jameson wants nothing more than to have a private life and Dani has a business deal that is directly the opposite of that. The couple struggles with communication issues throughout the book. I did find Dani as a little uncompromising. Overall this was a good read. This was my second read from this author but I will be adding her to my rotation.

Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and the author for this ARC!

Yes please!! I need more like this!! I highly recommend this to any and everyone!

I enjoyed the book because I do love the characters! I am not a huge fan of the miscommunication trope so that did affect my rating because it was the main cause of the tension between the main characters and I could t relate to why Danny didn’t tell him. But otherwise I liked it and I would read the next book if there is one or a spin off!

I received this as an ARC from NetGalley and the Publishers, Avon and Harper Voyager. The was given free of charge in exchange for an honest review. I highly recommend reading American Royalty before reading The Duchess Effect.

My Man, My Man, My Man!

I'm not going to lie I loved this book way more the first book, American Royalty. The love and protection Jameson showed Duchess had my heart screaming! When she would walk in the room, he would always think about how she was his forever! This officially added him to list I have of fictional boyfriend crushes. Now, all was not good in paradise. This book touched an actual problems in today's society and around the world. It made you look at the UK, US and honestly the world from different views. I will not state wether this was wrong or right because this is not a political book. This is all fiction!

Overall, I loved the book and I am crossing my fingers for another one! I need a final happy ending for them!

Please check the CW's on this book. I've listed a few below:
-Hate Crime
-Bombings
-Grief from loss of loved ones
-Abandonment issues
-Infidelity

Goodness, I wanted to love this one so much, especially after how much I adored the first book, American Royals. The Duchess Effect is the continuation of Jameson and Dani's story, after the epilogue left many loose ends and questions surrounding the future of the couple. While the book did an excellent job of tackling important issues of colonization and race, the story felt anti-climactic after the first book. There wasn't much conflict and I didn't see a ton of growth in either character. They spent the majority of the book talking about how they had only been together for a short time, but then spouting "I love you" every other sentence. I wanted to love this one, but unfortunately this sequel fell flat.

This was book 2 in a series that I was lucky enough to get on NetGalley, and while I am new to the romance game, I was drawn to these books, because of their interest in characters, and also the deeper storylines. While some of this mirrors, what has happened in the British royal family with the mistreatment of Meghan Markle, it’s also I think a deeper look at the role of royal families in whatever capacity they exist, and they’re often antiquated ways of doing things. Duchess and her prince are figuring out how to be together both in and out of the limelight, but the increasing pressures on both of them by the royal family and the notoriously difficult British press begin to take their toll. While this is a look at a romantic relationship, the author does into, the racism of these old institutions, and in the world in general. I look forward to more of this relationship and from this author.

I started reading the first installment in this series, American Royalty, and I DNF’d it at 40%. I was not interested in the story and because of that I’m not going to read The Duchess Effect.

What a great ending to this duet! This is a Contemporary, interracial romance loosely based on Megan and Harry’s story. This story was the conclusion to Dani and Jay’s story. American Royalty ended with Dani and Jay taking a chance on each other. This story picks up right where that story ended. Dani continues to struggle with career and personal goals and Jay believes he can go back to teaching without a consequence. Welp, that’s a big NO. Dani and Jay need to work together to navigate new stressors thrown their way, but trusting each other becomes a major reason for miscommunication throughout the book. The third act conflict was expected when all concerns were laid on the table. The resolution was easy and quick. I enjoyed this conclusion to their story. I need Nyla and Rhys story, please! Stop teasing us! I gave this story 4 Stars. Looking forward to seeing more from Tracey Livesay.

I was expecting a deeper emotional connection in this book between the two characters but it was still full of tension despite this being the sequel. I was waiting for more.

I enjoy reading book series but there is always the concern that a second book in the series will be a "Sophomore Slump". I can say 'The Duchess Effect" lived up to American Royalty in many ways.

Throughout this second book in the series, you see Dani and Jameson struggling to make their relationship work under the extremely difficult circumstances of both of their lifestyles. Their shared struggle is with communication, vulnerability and independence. It was a little frustrating to see them struggle to communicate their most basic desires for their future.. A little communication (and some vulnerability on Dani's part) would have made this a short read. However, the author hinted in American Royalty why this could be a challenge for them and The Duchess Effect delivered on that.

I do love so many of the themes at play, especially around race and the media. My only wish is that the book had more of Dani's music journey in it. I would love to see more of her plans to evolve as an established artist with a little more career autonomy. I guess that could always be explored in a third book!

Overall, I fully recommend this for those who loved the first book. Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for the ARC.

The Duchess Effect is a sequel done right! In the second novel to American Royalty, The Duchess Effect graces us with Prince Jameson and Dani once again. When we last read their story, their romance was just beginning and now, the two have quite a few royal hurdles to overcome. And just when we thought we were all done with Samantha Banks, she makes an unforgettable reappearance no one saw coming!

The Duchess Effect continued to illuminate racial disparities in the monarchy and American society and the obstacles that women in corporate America consistently face. These purposeful themes mixed with the contagious chemistry between Jameson and Dani create the perfect story to both learn and fall in love.