I really enjoyed The Royal Game. It was definitely more of a mystery than romance book which is probably why I couldn’t put the book down. I love keeping up with the British Monarchy, so this book was the perfect book for me! Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read The Royal Game!

I really liked this! It was a different kind of royal romance and you really felt everything she went through. I know this will a hit for those who love the modern royalty trope!

American pop singer Jennie Jensen is ready to marry the love of her life, England's Prince Hugh, but someone is determined to keep her from becoming a princess—any way they can. As she’s learning to navigate the minefield of constant scrutiny, barbed social interactions, and royal protocol, Jennie finds that not everyone in England is excited about the prospect of an American princess. When Jennie receives a threatening note, she can't help but see the parallels between herself and another young woman who struggled to adjust to royal life: Hugh's mother, Princess Penelope, who was killed in a mysterious plane crash. As the threats to Jennie grow more serious, she digs into Penelope's past, discovering a woman who also suspected someone in the palace was out to get her. Was Penelope murdered? And is Jennie next?

Thank you @netgalley for the ARC! This book was a quick and engrossing read that lovers of the royal family will enjoy. I liked that the story alternated between Jennie in the present and Penelope in the past. This book reads almost like fan fiction of the actual royal family, and parallels between the novel’s characters and real life royals can be easily drawn. The story focuses more on the mystery of uncovering who is threatening Jennie and what happened to Penelope, and while I enjoyed that plot line I would have liked a little more development and background of Hugh and Jennie’s relationship. The ending felt a little rushed, especially in the final chapters, but wrapped up everything neatly. Overall this was a quick and fun read. The Royal Game hits shelves in January!

Just a good one.
Read it in one sitting. Four stars read.
I deeply enjoyed it.
Thanks to netgalley for this book

I love a good royal romance, and The Royal Game takes that and flips the trope on its head as more of a women's fiction/mystery novel. Comps include The Royal We (and its sequel) as well as the real-life romances of King Charles and Princess Diana, Prince William and Princess Kate and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. That being said, I did feel like The Royal Game can stand on its own. The writing is so well-written and compelling that I find myself plunged deep into the story, yearning to discover what will happen next. The dialogue has such witty banter from the jump, and like it is so much fun that I'm desperate to keep reading and can hardly put the book down.

As a romance, it is a mostly "closed-door" one, but there is an HEA (which thank god) that feels completely earned and justified. It comes in right at the nick of time to save the day (and the characters' dreams).

When Prince Hugh shows up unexpectedly to one of Jennie Jensen’s concerts, her entire world changes. However, being a princess isn’t all it’s hyped up to be in fairytales. As Jennie gets closer to marrying Hugh, she starts discovering the dark truth about the royal family and death of Hugh’s mother, Princess Penelope.

Inspired by Princess Diana, Harry, and Meghan (I’m guessing). This was an intriguing read. However, it moved too slow for me. I feel like it was trying to be both a romance and a thriller and didn’t really succeed at either.

I will admit, I read just about anything that has to do with the Royal family.  When I saw this title on NetGalley, I quickly requested it.  

Jennie Jensen is an American musician (I wouldn't call her a pop star because it seems like her star is no longer rising when we meet her) who while on a European club tour discovers the fan who requested a repeat of her famous song (and who she gave crap to about the request) is none other than the Prince of Wales.  What follows, is what happens when she finds herself trying to navigate the ropes of The Firm.  Told in alternating POVs between Jennie (current day) and HRH the Princess of Wales, Penelope (past), readers discover the life of a princess is not all that we dream about as little girls.  There's a bit of intrigue that Jennie has to navigate as she tries to solve who wants her away from Hugh and the parallels between her situation and Penelope's.  

This was a cute story. There were definitely parts where I could see bits of Diana's story in Penelope and then a mash-up of Will & Kate/Harry & Meghan with Jennie and Hugh.  The influence was apparent, but the author put their own spin on the story to make it an enjoyable weekend read.

This was a fun and easy read; however, it felt far too much like fanfiction for my liking. I appreciate the authors creative licence but I can't imagine that the royal family would be happy with this, considering the clear similarities to people and events. But, I suppose that could be a deciding factor for some people...

If you like anything royal, especially dealing with the current royal family, then you will love this book. It reads like fanfic centered around the famous royals of the moment. The story goes back and forth between current day told from the main character's point of view dealing with current events, and then in the past to Princess Penelope's diary entries. I was a little disappointed that the book was more mystery centered than romance, but it was still an interesting read.

The ending was very rushed. According to my kindle we were at the 90% mark and then a series of rapid fire events occur so we can get to the end on if this couple was actually going to get married. Overall, it definitely had me over this trope for a while.

Such a cute royal romance! While obvious which real royals the story is based on, I appreciate that it wasn’t a literal copy of their lives. I really liked Jennie & Hugh.

Very much enjoyed this book. Very loosely based on real people and events but kept me intrigued with how it would all work out. I liked the mystery aspect of the story line. This is my first time reading this author but won’t be my last.

Buckle up for a royal rollercoaster as "The Royal Game" takes you on a thrilling journey through love, mystery, and the glamorous world of American pop sensation Jennie Jensen. This book is an enchanting fusion of fairy-tale romance and nail-biting suspense that will leave you on the edge of your seat.

Jennie Jensen, a celebrated American singer living her dream, finds herself on an unexpected course to becoming a princess. England's future king, Prince Hugh of Wales, enters her life at a gig, immediately smitten by her talent and beauty. Their whirlwind romance leads to an enchanting proposal, and just like that, Jennie is thrust into a new realm of royalty, complete with its intricate web of rules and royal protocol.

However, not everyone in England is thrilled about an American joining the royal family. As Jennie encounters hostility and receives ominous threats, she becomes intrigued by the tragic fate of Princess Penelope, Prince Hugh's mother. Penelope's life, shrouded in mystery and cut short by a plane crash, mirrors Jennie's own challenges in adapting to her royal role. Are the threats against Jennie connected to Penelope's past? Was Penelope's death truly an accident?

With the royal wedding on the horizon and the nation's eyes upon her, Jennie embarks on a race against time to secure her marriage and protect her life. The story beautifully oscillates between a charming love affair and a gripping mystery, showcasing one woman's unwavering determination to achieve her happily ever after on her own terms.

If you're captivated by anything royal, especially the modern royal family, "The Royal Game" is tailor-made for you. This novel reads like royal fan fiction, delving into the dynamics of the famous royals of our time. It's a tale that switches between the present, focusing on Jennie's challenges, and the past, through Princess Penelope's diary entries, offering an intriguing juxtaposition of different generations of royal life.

While the book leans more towards mystery than romance, it's a compelling and absorbing read. You'll find yourself engrossed in a world where the "commoner" is destined to become not just any princess but the Queen. The novel touches upon the trials and tribulations faced by those who marry into royalty, drawing inspiration from real-life British monarchy. The alternating chapters provide a glimpse into Princess Penelope's (bearing similarities to Diana) struggles as she was married to King Edmund, filled with conspiracies and challenges.

While the story keeps you engaged, it does speed toward its conclusion during the final chapters, leaving you breathless with rapid-fire events. Ultimately, "The Royal Game" delivers an enjoyable yet somewhat unremarkable experience—a delightful, light-hearted blend of mystery and romance that will keep you entertained, if not entirely spellbound.

Overall, "The Royal Game" certainly had me engrossed in royal tales for a while. This fun, light, popcorn mystery interwoven with romance is a treat for those who relish royal family narratives. While I'm generously giving it three stars, signifying my enjoyment of the read, it lacks that unique element to set it apart from the other delightful novels I've recently devoured. It's a pleasurable experience, albeit a tad easily forgettable. So, if you're in the mood for some royal intrigue, pick it up and let yourself be swept away into the world of love, suspense, and the glittering monarchy.

I received this book from NetGalley and the publishers to read and review. All statements above are my true
opinions after fully reading this book. This was a quick & enjoyable read!

This is absolutely the type of read that I crave! A terrific plot, royal glamor and quick action all rolled into one! Highly recommend this one!

If you like anything royal, especially dealing with the current royal family, then you will love this book. It reads like fanfic centered around the famous royals of the moment. The story goes back and forth between current day told from the main character's point of view dealing with current events, and then in the past to Princess Penelope's diary entries. I was a little disappointed that the book was more mystery centered than romance, but it was still an interesting read. Thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for this ARC for my honest review.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I requested this book while I was going through my royalty dating a commoner phase of reading. I just finished the Duchess Effect and I was wanting to keep reading more of those types and we came to this. The difference between DE and this is that the commoner is eventually going to become the actual Queen. She's not just marrying a prince she's marrying THE prince and she's supposed to be an indie singer. The Queen aspect isn't really addressed, they just focus on the fact she's about to become a princess which I thought was a bit strange. The author was heavily influenced by the real life British monarchy and alternate chapters we're jumping back in time to get a POV of Princess Penelope (aka Diana) and how hard a time she had at being married to King Edmund. Conspiracies run rampant through the story as the protagonist is being threatened (although if her life was that much in danger you'd think she'd get more than 1 protective detail)

The ending was very rushed. According to my kindle we were at the 90% mark and then a series of rapid fire events occur so we can get to the end on if this couple was actually going to get married. Overall, it definitely had me over this trope for a while.

This was a fun read if you are interested in the current Royal family. This story has different names and slight differences in events, however, it's still blatantly obvious that the characters are based (intentionally or not) on current royals and their lives. I do absolutely adore this cover!!

Thank you so much for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are completely my own.

It's readable and easy to follow. It felt like Prince Harry Meghan Markle fanfiction, which has been done to death as of late. I wasn't interested in continuing. I stopped at 7%.

Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone for the ARC.

Im still kinda mulling this one over. Was it a fun read? Sure. But was it also low key royal family fan fiction? Also yes. I’m sure someone who was much more invested in princess diana would like this book much more than me but for me this book is his 3 stars

3.8
I could have done with a bit more of the early game in the royal romance, and Penelope came off a tad putzy, but overall this was fairly compelling and even had a muzzy little mystery thing going on.