I was expecting a romance but that part of the novel is quick – it goes from the meeting to the proposal and then right into living in the palace. Then the mystery and intrigue start and the story gets interesting. I was disappointed in how quickly she seemed to have given up her own career to plan her wedding. In fact, I didn’t even feel like I knew anything about Jennie or Hugh other than brief tidbits that we’re told. This was all mystery and no character development. The mystery itself was rushed and I couldn’t get into the story on the whole. I would have liked a little more of the romance between Jennie and Hugh and more mystery development.

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.

This story artfully combines elements of romance and mystery, and I also experienced its audiobook version, narrated by Barrie Kreinik and Shiromi Arserio. The story, centered on Jennie Jensen's unexpected royal romance and ensuing challenges, captivated me with its blend of love and intrigue. The narrators brought depth to the characters, enhancing the listening experience. While the plot's swift conclusion felt somewhat rushed, the overall narrative kept me engaged. Although not groundbreaking, this book was a delightful escape into a world of royal drama and romance. It's perfect for those who enjoy tales of love, mystery, and the allure of royalty, albeit without expecting profound depth or novelty.

4.5/5 stars

This book was a journey from start to finish and I really enjoyed it. The story kept me hooked all the way through. If you are a fan of The Crown and conspiracy theories about the monarchy, you will want to pick up this fictional story that feels really real.

The only piece that didn’t feel real was the last chapter—even after everything, I doubt the real crown would let that happen. But it is a romance, after all, and Jennie and Hugh deserved their happy ending.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

The Royal Game is the perfect book for any followers of the British Royal Family or fans of The Crown. It's a lot of fun-a bit murder mystery, a lot of storylines that will be familiar to anyone who's followed Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's romance, and a sweet romance at the center of it. It's told in alternating perspectives and time periods. The current timeline is about musician Jenny Jensen and Prince Hugh, but there are chapters from the past that highlight Hugh's mom Princess Penelope's sudden and suspicious death. It is SO similar to the major plotlines from Princess Diana's life, but it's still a fun read.

Many thanks to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for advanced reader access to this title in exchange for my review.

American Jennie Jensen has a meet cute with Prince Hugh, the future King of England while preforming at a concert. Cut to a secret romance, a public engagement and the terror begins. Who is trying to stop their marriage? Could it be connected to the death of his beloved mother, Princess Penelope? When strange, scary and life threatening things happen Jennie starts secretly investigating only to find more questions than answers. Will she find out what really happened before she loses her life as well? So many suspects, terrible people, so many lies, so much deceit and deception behind Palace wall all to maintain what “The Firm” wants the public to know and perceive them all. An interesting mystery within a sweet love story. It had me thinking about Prince Harry and Meghan and Princess Diana through the entire listen. While the plot's intrigue added suspense, the drawn-out royal family speculations felt overwrought at times. If half stars were available this would have been a 3.5 star read.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

A bit more mystery than romance and I was absolutely here for it…it was a suspenseful romance! It felt very much like it took current royal family history, and turned it into fiction (Megan Markel and Princess Diana). But having that connection made me enjoy the story more. The story has a dual timeline feel with the writings from the princess tying the past to the present.

This is a great choice for a fun and intriguing read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for my ARC copy! This review contains my personal thoughts and opinions.

Overall, I was in the middle of the road with this book. I really don’t have interest in the monarchy, and this story drew a lot of similarities to what we have seen in the news in recent years with an American marrying into the royal family, in addition to what we saw happen with Princess Diana. It felt like those stories but with a twist.

I did like how the story kept me intrigued because there was a bit of mystery to it, and I found myself really wanting to know "whodunnit". I also did not mind the dual storylines because they were distinctly different. I actually enjoyed Princess Penelope's storyline more than Jennie and Hugh's. There just wasn’t anything that really wowed me with the book as a whole. There were no super shocking revelations or anything of that nature. It was a good story, but I personally could have used a little more "umph".

Pop culture fiction....

-Ish...Kind of based on history, but fictionalized.
Jennie is pop princess dating Prince Hugh of Wales.
Sound familiar? There are parallels aplenty between Hugh's mother and Jennie.
Sound even more familiar?
Nothing is easy when you are dating a royal, especially the heir to the throne.
Is it worth it?
Recommend.

DNF

The pacing of the book felt weird to me. It starts off with her and the prince first meeting, then by the next chapter 9 months has passes, and then there is a flashback to the prince's mom, then it jumps 6 weeks and they're engaged?!?! I feel like the first four chapters that I've read are all set up to their engagement. The description of the book talks about a "secretive, whirlwind romance," but that is all actually skipped over in the book and it's just said that it happens, not shown. I understand that I probably haven't even gotten to the main plot yet, but I don't really like how much plot is actually not being shown at all.

I love royal romances. 90% of my reads are royal romances, which is surprising until you think about how many young adult/new adult romances have to deal with royals or "elites." The premise of The Royal Game is not unique, with a commoner falling in love with the price. But this book is different because there is an air of mystery regarding the prince's mother (basically Princess Diana). Enjoyable!

A fun book filled with romance and suspense that will keep you on the edge of your seat. I enjoyed the dual timeline element as well.

This one didn't stick for me. I think that the events that it is loosely based on feel like they happened not that long ago, so it felt weird. BUT if this is something you look for then check it out! This is a good one, and the writing is good, it just wasn't for me at the time.

Where do I begin? First off, I wouldn’t consider this a romance book as it was described. The first couple chapters, yes. There were elements of romance, fun loving, sweet banter between Hugh and Jennie which I enjoyed but then it abruptly stops.

Unfortunately, the story is riddled with aspects of the current royal family as well as the late Princess Diana. Calling Princess Penelope the “English Rose” , having Hugh and Jennie spend time in Botswana, the fire, the ongoing harassment and hate, the death of Princess Penelope, the affairs of King Edmund who eventually remarried his true love? With the amount of documentaries and movies on Harry and Meghan and the Royal family I only wish the Author would have been more creative instead of pulling from their story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for providing me with an E-ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I had extremely high hopes for this book and unfortunately in a lot of aspects I was let down. The story progresses so slowly that I almost DNF’d it less than half way in because it felt like we weren’t getting anywhere. The author drew lots of inspiration from the current royal family which could have been interesting but instead it read more like some kind of fanfic. What saved the book for me was the mystery and wanting to know who was behind everything.

Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for providing me with an E-ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Was a cute, fun read. As a lover of all things royal-this book was just the right mix of a storyline based on the royal family we know and love and some fictional characters and plots.

Positives:
The book had not only a romance storyline, but also included and focused mainly on a mystery.
Told from two different povs, Jennie Jansen-the newest heir apparent and Princess Penelope (Princess Diana)
Light-hearted mix of a mystery and romance
Quick read

Negatives:
Pacing, the end was rushed and if you were hoping to spend a lot of time on their wedding, you will not get that
Not much development of Prince High and Jennie's relationship-focus was more on the threat toward Jennie

Would recommened to those who love the royals like me.

Jennie Jensen becomes engaged to Prince Hugh, crown prince of Great Britain. As royal life swirls around her, threats face her life. Jennie feels like her fate is tied to the fate of her mother-in-law, the deceased Princess Penelope. The closer Jennie gets to the truth about Penelope's death, the more danger she is in.

I didn't care too much for this book. It was reasonably well written, but the similarities and differences to the royal family were just jarring. If you like royal family fanfic, this is the book for you. It wasn't the book for me.

I've said it once and I'll say it again, give me a book with any kind of a royal premise, and I am all over it. This book was definitely interesting and I couldn't help but draw parallels between it and the death of Princess Diana. It has been a conspiracy theory that Princess Diana was worried about dying in a car crash that the palace made look like an accident. It also makes you wonder what would have happened or how history would be different if Princess Diana would have survived that car crash/never died. I love a book that keeps me entertained and a story that is fast paced, and this one delivered on all fronts. Thank you to the publisher for giving me the chance to read a digital ARC of this book!

Soapy, gossipy, and very loosely based on the British Royal family, The Royal Game is even more outlandishly entertaining than the Crown.

Royal watchers will find plenty of fictionalizations of real royals with an overlay of drama as the latest new bride marrying in thinks someone is out to kill her. Just like they did her mother in law! You can't take any of it seriously but it is very amusing!

I flew through this book! I'm a sucker for any royal romance so I had to pick up this read. I liked how the book had a mystery about it and it wasn't strictly romance so it kept me wanting more as I read. However, I thought that this was a little too close to the Megan Markle and Prince Harry story and felt like I had already knew the story.