Member Reviews

This one didn't hit like the 1st one did. I was also in a slump while reading it. I'm not sure what would of helped me enjoy it more besides time.

Was this review helpful?

3.75 Stars (I received an e-arc from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review

I was in a romance mood and randomly picked this one out. I started reading it and then got curious about the first book in the series. So about 10-20% of the way through this book I paused and read the first book "The back up princess" which I did really enjoy. I think overall I preferred Royally Matched more as we get to see Sophia blossom as a more confident version of herself and proving that planning out your life is not how your life will go. I liked the surprise near the end, although you could definitely predict what the outcome was going to be. Still very enjoyable, I love the chemistry between Sophia and Marco and I am curious about the next book as I really liked her sister (Amelia?)

Was this review helpful?

I love the royal family and anything with a hint of a royal family in the book, I am hooked. Royally Matched by Kate O'Keeffe was the perfect book for this. Princess Sofia and Marco's story was sweet, it had me laughing and held my attention the entire book.

Princess Sofia is a lover of spreadsheets, which won my heart, and learns that she isn't going to find love with them. Marco wasn't in the spreadsheet equation but he turned out to be just what she needed.

Was this review helpful?

Royally Matched by Kate O'Keeffe is the second book of the Royally Kissed series. I enjoyed this even more than The Backup Princess, the first book. I loved the romance buildup - the author delivered on the spark even with minimal spice. The characters are such fun and likeable and the ending was really good.
Thank you, Netgalley and Wild Lime Books, for giving me the ARC. All opinions expressed are fully mine.

Was this review helpful?

"Royally Matched" is a charming contemporary royal romance that blends humor, heart, and adventure. The story follows a princess on her quest to find a suitable husband at the Husband Hunting Ball, where she is initially drawn to the charming Enzo Revera, but finds no spark. Instead, she encounters Enzo’s adventurous brother, Marco, who is everything she has been taught to avoid. Their chemistry leads them on whimsical escapades filled with royal duties and an ancient riddle, creating a palpable tension between duty and desire.

The novel departs from typical fairy tale conventions, emphasizing that true love involves embracing the messy journey of finding one’s soulmate. Its closed-door romance style is accessible to readers who prefer emotional storytelling without explicit content. The narrative captures the struggle between royal obligations and personal desires, encouraging readers to reflect on pursuing both love and duty. Overall, "Royally Matched" is a delightful read filled with clever dialogue, relatable challenges, and a satisfying happily ever after, making it a highly anticipated entry in the "Royally Kissed" series.

Was this review helpful?

Such a fun read! The humor thrown in make this especially enjoyable. I didn’t get to read the first book in the series (yet), but it surely can’t be any better than this one. The relationship with a bit of three-way decision making still meant that I was rooting for one man to be the one- and of course that man is Marco!

Five stars for this light story.

Was this review helpful?

This is a cute royalty romance! Forced proximity, super sweet mmc. It reminded me of the princess diaries. I did not read the first book but it’s not necessary since this can be read as a standalone. I received a free copy of Royally Matched from the author, publisher, and netgalley, in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I am continuing to really enjoy this series! Marco is a delight, and I loved how excited he is about landscape design. Unsurprisingly, I just wanted to punch Enzo, although I was pleased at how certain things with him went later in the book. The getaway was lovely, and the reveal at the end was chef’s kiss so good. I can’t wait for Amelia and Max’s stories!

Was this review helpful?

Princess Sophie thinks she can find the perfect husband in "Royally Matched." The very practical, buttoned-up, stone-hearted Sophie is determined to never have her heart broken again so she creates a spreadsheet to find which of her country's eligible bachelors would meet all her predetermined requisites. At the Husband Finding Ball, however, she meets a man named Marco who gives her instant flutters, makes her laugh, and feel noticed. Unfortunately, he is the brother of the man she thinks is her best match on paper. Will Sophie go with her head or her heart?

This is a really cute royalty romance with the royalty x normal person trope. I loved how Sophie had to rethink her outlook on life and ways she has created to protect her heart. And I also enjoyed Marco coming into his own and realizing his worth behind his brother's shadow.

*** I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. ***

Was this review helpful?

This book was so good! First of all the cover is absolutely perfect and it made me want to read it so bad. The romance in this book was so good and the character growth in this book was very well done! I would highly recommend this book!

Was this review helpful?

“Did you know you’re my unexpected miracle?”
“I guess we're both unexpected miracles in one another’s lives.”

I had never read this author, but I really enjoyed the story and the slow burn romance. I loved the chemistry between Princess Sofia and Marco, and one of my favorite scenes was the tea party interrupted by Lemmon and Pepper.🐾
I really didn't expect that Sofia's parents would be the ones who devised the plan for them to fall in love, and it made me very happy how they changed the law so that their daughter can be queen.
I'm looking forward to reading the stories of the rest of Sofia's siblings and having more crumbs from this beautiful couple.🥰🩵

Was this review helpful?

Royally Matched is the second book in a series, but can be read as a stand alone. I hadn't read the first book, but I will after reading this one.

This story follows Sofia, nicknamed Princess Pitifull by the media, she is expected to find a husband before turning 28 y/o or she will have an arranged marriage. In the hope of finding a good husband herself, she has made a spreadsheet with suitable candidates whom are invited to a ball organised by her parents. The man she believes to be the best match, Enzo Revera, (Lord Strozzi) brings along his brother/assistant Marco and the unexpected happens; sparks fly.

Marco is the ultimate cinnamon roll MMC and I loved how Sofia broke out of her shell thanks to his loving character. We don't get the grumpy/sunshine trope the other way around much, so that was very fun to read. This story is written in double POV, which I always love, so we can read both sides of the story.

I really liked this book and the Princess Diaries vibes it gives.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Princess Sofia is ready for marriage all the check marks and boxes on her spreadsheet told her so. She did not expect expect to feel spark for her perfect matches brother, the guy who saves her from an embarrassing proposal at the Husband Hunting Ball
Marco has been traveling the world since his father died, trying to find himself. He finally returns home to be his brother secretary, which might more than he expected.

Straight lace vs Carefree
Mismatched vs perfect match
A mysterious scavenger hunt
Sizzle
Snarky and hysterical siblings
Matchmaking schemes
Grumpy/sunshine
Adventures
Lemon and Pepper the Labradors

This was another fun story in that Royally Kissed series. I love Marco and Sofia. They spend so much time in the book trying to do the right thing, even if it’s not the thing they want. Sofia's siblings are so fantastic in the story and I can’t wait to read Amelia’s story. Marco is full of humor and fun, he really brings it out Sofia's true hidden personality.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you Kate O'Keeffe and Netgalley for the e-ARC of Royally Matched.

This sweet book explores following your head versus heart when it comes to love! Princess Sofia decides to pursue an arranged marriage to Enzo after he checks all the right boxes. Complications arise when his handsome, sweet, and kind brother Marco enters the picture. This was a really cute love story/series. Royally Matched is book 2, but can be read as a stand alone.

Was this review helpful?

I read this straight after A Backup Princess which I really enjoyed but struggled with the first 50%.
Sophia is husband hunting, attending a Husband Hunting Ball to find her perfect match, the plot sounded fun but I found it a bit awkward to read at times. I did love Marco's character, he's so endearing and cute.
I'm looking forward to Amelia's and Max's story.
Thank you NetGalley, Kate O'Keeffe and Wild Lime Books for this ARC, all opinions expressed are my own.

Was this review helpful?

I really liked this book. It was really nice to see Sofia find love and really herself throughout the book. I loved that she ended up with someone that valued the real her. Overall the book was splendid so were the characters.

Was this review helpful?

This was the perfect read for a wet Sunday afternoon.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🚫

After loving the Backup Princess I couldn’t wait to read Sofia’s story.

Princess Sofia needs a husband! Enzo ticks all of the boxes. But what should work on paper doesn’t work in real life. Enter Marco, his younger brother.

This is such a sweet rom-com. If you love reverse grumpy sunshine, cinnamon roll MMC and forced proximity this is for you

If you love The Princess Diaries you will love this series. So pleased Amelia and Max will be getting their stories too.

Was this review helpful?

Marco is not the man Princess Sofia thought she'd meet at he husband hunting ball, but is he the one she wants? A fun read, and I liked how it was told from both points of view. Looking forward to the next books in this series.

Was this review helpful?

I enjoyed this follow-up to The Backup Princess, which was about Prince Alex falling for Princess Maddie of Malveaux. This time, oldest royal sister Sofia (Alex's sister) has decided, as she approaches her 28th birthday, to follow the family tradition of having her parents make an arranged marriage for her... except this time, she's going to get them to throw a ball for her with all of the eligible men in the (very small) country attending. She's the oldest but because of the males inheriting the throne, and Alex moving to Malveaux, her youngest brother will become king.

Sofia is extremely organized and has created a spreadsheet with every quality she's looking for, and has actually narrowed the huge list of attending candidates down to only one she is actually intending to meet and offer her interest to, the boring Enzo Revera. Enzo attends the ball with his world wandering and basically ADHD brother Marco as his assistant, in an ill-fitting suit and dirt under his nails. When Marco accidentally is the first to meet Princess Sofia with an old school friend who instantly proposes and calls him "Duck"... she's quite smitten!

This is a whirlwind story of a romance that isn't supposed to be happening based on a traditional romance that was on paper super appropriate, yet no spark and the brother that threw a wrench into all of the carefully laid plans. Sofia and Marco scrambling around the kingdom trying to chase down clues to solve a riddle that is presented to them - this book is just plain fun.

I had a blast reading this one and as with all of the other Kate O'Keeffe ComRoms I've read before, I highly recommend it! I read it straight through in a single sitting because I couldn't stop. It was so entertaining! Her writing style is fantastic and the storyline was so engrossing. I can't wait for more stories about this royal family!

I received an advance copy from NetGalley and Wild Lime Books, and this is my honest feedback.

Was this review helpful?

This is the 2nd book in the series, and I hadn't read the first one, but that just speaks to the fact they can be read independently. Sweet romance with great characters and plot. Dual POV and some of our favorite tropes: grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity, opposites attract. The writing is top-notch and I will definitely be looking forward to reading more from this author! It is a solid 4-star read! *I received an advanced complimentary copy from the author/publishing company in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?