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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
4.5 stars
This book started a bit muted and although I adore slow burns, in this case I would have preferred Logan and Ellie's relationship to proceed a bit faster. That being said, the last part of the book, in which they are truly truly together was flawless and had all the elements a reader like me could dream of. There was a bit of angst, easily solved, there was drama, swoon, an epilogue to die for. So it had it all.
One thing I'm not completely sure is whether I did or did not love how much of the story was focused on the previous characters in the series. They are not just mentioned or cammeoed, but are living breathing second characters, sometimes with plot twists even more interesting than the ones concerning the main couple. And even though I'd cut off a limb to have another book about Olivia and Nicholas or Sarah and Henry, I would have probably wanted a bit more of Logan and Ellie as main focuses. But this is just a minor, minor flaw.
As expected, I adored the characters. What was unexpected was the naturalness of Logan and Ellie's feelings for each other and their subsequent relationship. Out of all the couples, they were the ones I was more suspicious about, with Ellie being younger than him, and Logan being such a stern bodyguard. But with her he reveals another side of him, a warmer, sometimes caveman side of him that got my blood boiling and my heart thawing.
So in conclusion, it was a great romance and I loved how it evolved, but the fast-forward at the beginning, portraying their relationship in the various years... maybe I'm not used to these kinds of things anymore, but it watered down the epicness of it, a bit. I had expected more emotions, sooner. More drama, too.
The style is as usual entertaining, light, and addictive. I've been reading every spare moment I could find these past few days because I needed to see what would happen next. All the characters have their own personality but they are all equally funny, from super shy Sarah to "batty" Olivia to the Prince and future King. Seeing these couples together was a sugar injection of the best kind. But unfortunately it made for some comparisons, and Logan and Ellie's togetherness at times fell short, especially at the beginning.
Still, I would uber recommend it. If you loved the first two you'll love this one and if you're new to the series, this book will definitely make you want to dive in the rest.
On a last note, I just wanted to mention a scene. It was a desperate scene and it surprised me, but maybe it shouldn't have given the author's masterfulness at tugging at my emotions, how raw and perfect Logan's desperation and rush towards a certain place was. It wasn't a log section, just a paragraph or two probably. But hell if I didn't feel it in my very veins, blood thumping and ears ringing. I was right there with him.
This book started a bit muted and although I adore slow burns, in this case I would have preferred Logan and Ellie's relationship to proceed a bit faster. That being said, the last part of the book, in which they are truly truly together was flawless and had all the elements a reader like me could dream of. There was a bit of angst, easily solved, there was drama, swoon, an epilogue to die for. So it had it all.
One thing I'm not completely sure is whether I did or did not love how much of the story was focused on the previous characters in the series. They are not just mentioned or cammeoed, but are living breathing second characters, sometimes with plot twists even more interesting than the ones concerning the main couple. And even though I'd cut off a limb to have another book about Olivia and Nicholas or Sarah and Henry, I would have probably wanted a bit more of Logan and Ellie as main focuses. But this is just a minor, minor flaw.
As expected, I adored the characters. What was unexpected was the naturalness of Logan and Ellie's feelings for each other and their subsequent relationship. Out of all the couples, they were the ones I was more suspicious about, with Ellie being younger than him, and Logan being such a stern bodyguard. But with her he reveals another side of him, a warmer, sometimes caveman side of him that got my blood boiling and my heart thawing.
So in conclusion, it was a great romance and I loved how it evolved, but the fast-forward at the beginning, portraying their relationship in the various years... maybe I'm not used to these kinds of things anymore, but it watered down the epicness of it, a bit. I had expected more emotions, sooner. More drama, too.
The style is as usual entertaining, light, and addictive. I've been reading every spare moment I could find these past few days because I needed to see what would happen next. All the characters have their own personality but they are all equally funny, from super shy Sarah to "batty" Olivia to the Prince and future King. Seeing these couples together was a sugar injection of the best kind. But unfortunately it made for some comparisons, and Logan and Ellie's togetherness at times fell short, especially at the beginning.
Still, I would uber recommend it. If you loved the first two you'll love this one and if you're new to the series, this book will definitely make you want to dive in the rest.
On a last note, I just wanted to mention a scene. It was a desperate scene and it surprised me, but maybe it shouldn't have given the author's masterfulness at tugging at my emotions, how raw and perfect Logan's desperation and rush towards a certain place was. It wasn't a log section, just a paragraph or two probably. But hell if I didn't feel it in my very veins, blood thumping and ears ringing. I was right there with him.
I've been into the slow burns lately and this one was definitely that. It spans over a few years because she's only 17 when they meet. I really enjoyed how real Logan's feelings were portrayed and his interactions with Ellie.
When I first started this series, all the way back with Royally Screwed, I couldn't say that I was particularly impressed. It was an okay NA/romance novel, but it didn't capture my attention as some others have. However, when I picked up Royally Matched out of pure boredom and looking for something fun to read, I was absolutely enraptured by it. I loved Henry and Sarah so much, and I thought that the series was finally getting better. Perhaps it was my own fault that I built up my expectations so incredibly high for this novel but I was expecting so much more than what we were given.
I love Logan's character. He is wonderfully different than Nicholas and Henry, and the person that he is and his skills lends himself well to the plot line. I think Chase did a good job with making his reactions believable and his character multifaceted yet still down to earth. I could even put up with Ellie, although she is less spunky than how I usually like my heroines and ditzy despite the author's insistence that she is valedictorian level smart. It was also so lovely to see the characters from the other two novels in the series come back and make cameos, especially since this is the finale. But if you're like me and end up loving the characters from one of the other novels more, then I think you spend more time waiting for those wonderful cameos than you do rooting for the two main characters of this novel. The cameos are so abundant that they seem to detract from the love story of Ellie and Logan and your focus is split between too many couples for the majority of the story.
Where it really started to fall apart for me is the sheer number of time jumps Chase uses in this novel. Honestly, like my update said, I have watched TV shows and movies that deal with less time travel than this contemporary novel does. It causes the novel to feel so disjointed and the events just don't flow together. You lose track of how old the characters are and miss the development of how they mature over time. I understand that we start to see the beginning of Ellie and Logan's story in the first book, but I don't think that a dozen time jumps between that and present day for them is really necessary.
Overall, this was definitely not the strongest of the books in the trilogy. It was okay but not at all impressive, especially compared to the second book. Maybe read it to get closure for this series if you're still invested but don't have super high expectations going into it.
I love Logan's character. He is wonderfully different than Nicholas and Henry, and the person that he is and his skills lends himself well to the plot line. I think Chase did a good job with making his reactions believable and his character multifaceted yet still down to earth. I could even put up with Ellie, although she is less spunky than how I usually like my heroines and ditzy despite the author's insistence that she is valedictorian level smart. It was also so lovely to see the characters from the other two novels in the series come back and make cameos, especially since this is the finale. But if you're like me and end up loving the characters from one of the other novels more, then I think you spend more time waiting for those wonderful cameos than you do rooting for the two main characters of this novel. The cameos are so abundant that they seem to detract from the love story of Ellie and Logan and your focus is split between too many couples for the majority of the story.
Where it really started to fall apart for me is the sheer number of time jumps Chase uses in this novel. Honestly, like my update said, I have watched TV shows and movies that deal with less time travel than this contemporary novel does. It causes the novel to feel so disjointed and the events just don't flow together. You lose track of how old the characters are and miss the development of how they mature over time. I understand that we start to see the beginning of Ellie and Logan's story in the first book, but I don't think that a dozen time jumps between that and present day for them is really necessary.
Overall, this was definitely not the strongest of the books in the trilogy. It was okay but not at all impressive, especially compared to the second book. Maybe read it to get closure for this series if you're still invested but don't have super high expectations going into it.
I love these Royally books! Hooked! Can't wait to read more from Emma Chase. I listened to the audio on a car trip and loved the voice actors.
I liked that one better than the first in the series. It's the third book by this author that I have read so far and I keep coming back to her work because I like her writing, her characters and the pacing of her stories. I think, overall, she does a fine job at writing romance, and maybe she's even getting better at it with time, actually (I liked way more some of her more recent works).
Some of the shortcomings of the first one are not as present here: the trashiness was toned down (thank god!) and the setting was better handled. Politics and royalty-focused background was not more detailed, but this time that's kinda ok since the prince is no longer the main character. The relationships with the supporting cast is also better (which, I mean, the fact it exist at all already makes it better than in the last book!). A few well constructed interactions and couple nice snippets of dialogues were all it took to make those bonds meaningful. It brings depth to both the story and the main characters and make us care more for this fictional world.
There was less of that annoying macho confusion between power and threats in that book, too. But, and it's in the same vein, the book still suffered for somewhat clumsy attempts at badassery and other showiness. Those are always tricky: the line between a goose-bumps inducing moment and an eye-rolling, cringe-worthy disaster is always pretty thin. It depends on context, build-up and execution. In this book, it is not abysmal... buuuut, it stills read as maybe inexperienced. Some dialogues or exchanges come off as forced, out of place or too long/explanatory to feel realistic. Some scenes do feel "ad-hoc" and seeing their purpose that clearly does break a bit the immersion.
That being said, it is decent, the characters are more likable than in the first book - and I mean all of them: I liked Nicholas tons more in that book than in his own story! - and the portraying of supporting cast and supporting relationships was done well enough that there was a strong feeling of belonging and community around the main couple, which was heart warming.
Side note: I never heard "da" used for dad when I lived in Scotland. Granted it was years ago, but I wonder. I read somewhere it could be an Irish thing? Dunno, was just surprised by this, if someone ever read this review and knows about it, please tell me \o/
Favorite quotes:
"Love isn't a cure; it doesn't magically solve every problem. But it makes solving those problems worth it."
Some of the shortcomings of the first one are not as present here: the trashiness was toned down (thank god!) and the setting was better handled. Politics and royalty-focused background was not more detailed, but this time that's kinda ok since the prince is no longer the main character. The relationships with the supporting cast is also better (which, I mean, the fact it exist at all already makes it better than in the last book!). A few well constructed interactions and couple nice snippets of dialogues were all it took to make those bonds meaningful. It brings depth to both the story and the main characters and make us care more for this fictional world.
There was less of that annoying macho confusion between power and threats in that book, too.
Spoiler
Wasn't a fan of Logan and Tommy going to beat to a pulp the asshole who back-slapped Ellie, for example, but it kinda made sense with who those characters are and were they come from... though I suspect I was supposed to find this kinda hot or something, maybe. Well, I didn't but heh. On the other hand, this scene with Ellie asking for an apology at gunpoint was so utterly ridiculous, I almost laughed out loud.That being said, it is decent, the characters are more likable than in the first book - and I mean all of them: I liked Nicholas tons more in that book than in his own story! - and the portraying of supporting cast and supporting relationships was done well enough that there was a strong feeling of belonging and community around the main couple, which was heart warming.
Side note: I never heard "da" used for dad when I lived in Scotland. Granted it was years ago, but I wonder. I read somewhere it could be an Irish thing? Dunno, was just surprised by this, if someone ever read this review and knows about it, please tell me \o/
Favorite quotes:
"Love isn't a cure; it doesn't magically solve every problem. But it makes solving those problems worth it."
This book was not what I was expecting, but it was definitely worth reading! loved it!
Much better than the cover and title would suggest. Lol.
I have read this book probably around 5 times now, and it never gets old.
I am feral for every aspect of this book. Ellie is the sister of the love interest to a Crown Prince (convoluted, I know), which means that she now needs protection by proxy. Enter sexypants Logan, one of the Crown Prince's best bodyguards. It has been all business for years... but that close of proximity to someone as sunshinie as Ellie will break down even the sturdiest of walls... including Logan's.
Ellie is a hilarious, sweet, and strong FMC who continuesly shines throughout this book. She had me laughing so many times throughout with her sass and humor. And don't even get me started on Logan. I absolutely die for him because first off, he's a bodyguard (total swoon), and secondly, he is so protective, strong, supportive, and just downright lovely when it comes to Ellie.
I think that Emma Chase has the formula down for this book. She wove a fantastic story that had wonderful relationship development. The first part of the book spanned five years from when Logan and Ellie first met, all the way to more present time, which I LOVE in a book, especially when it was done this well. I love a good bodyguard romance, and this one has it all: good banter, great relationship development, a dash of intrigue, spice, and words of devotion. I am here for every moment of it, and I highly recommend it!
Tropes include:
MF Love Interests
Dual POV
Time Jumps
Grumpy x Sunshine
Bodyguard
Forbidden
Teen Crush
Age Gap (5ish Years)
Secret Pining
Slowburn
I am feral for every aspect of this book. Ellie is the sister of the love interest to a Crown Prince (convoluted, I know), which means that she now needs protection by proxy. Enter sexypants Logan, one of the Crown Prince's best bodyguards. It has been all business for years... but that close of proximity to someone as sunshinie as Ellie will break down even the sturdiest of walls... including Logan's.
Ellie is a hilarious, sweet, and strong FMC who continuesly shines throughout this book. She had me laughing so many times throughout with her sass and humor. And don't even get me started on Logan. I absolutely die for him because first off, he's a bodyguard (total swoon), and secondly, he is so protective, strong, supportive, and just downright lovely when it comes to Ellie.
I think that Emma Chase has the formula down for this book. She wove a fantastic story that had wonderful relationship development. The first part of the book spanned five years from when Logan and Ellie first met, all the way to more present time, which I LOVE in a book, especially when it was done this well. I love a good bodyguard romance, and this one has it all: good banter, great relationship development, a dash of intrigue, spice, and words of devotion. I am here for every moment of it, and I highly recommend it!
Tropes include:
MF Love Interests
Dual POV
Time Jumps
Grumpy x Sunshine
Bodyguard
Forbidden
Teen Crush
Age Gap (5ish Years)
Secret Pining
Slowburn