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A review by enchantingreads_rosyreviews
Royally on the Rocks by Irene Bahrd, Irene Bahrd
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
“I wake in the morning with my arms wrapped around Sage from behind. Her pillow wall is nowhere to be found.
She looks around, finding the discarded pillows on the ground. ‘Was that you or me?’
‘That was all you, love.’”
🥃
This story hit a little harder than Irene’s other romances, because of the MS (Multiple Sclerosis) angle. Our MMC’s mother has progressive MS and our FMC has relapse-remitting MS, the latter being something I confront constantly because I’m a caretaker for my close family member who’s been diagnosed for over 20 years. With this representation in Sage’s love story, I was instantly drawn in and Irene delivered a sweet story about loving someone with a disability. Although Sage feels like her diagnosis makes her difficult or a burden to love, she is shown how, those who truly love unconditionally, won’t let MS or any challenges that stem from it, stop them from sharing their love and support.
These thoughts might lean on the emotional side, don’t let that fool you. Yes, Irene delivers a deep, moving story about real-world struggles someone with a disability, especially with MS, deals with in trying to not burden their loved ones with the symptoms of their disability. And yes, that hit close to home (literally) for me and my personal experience. But she also keeps her classic scenes of spicy spice and parody humor. Plus, she threw in a fictional country nestled between England and Scotland (imagine that... can I visit there please? And maybe snag me a husband? 😉) with a modern royal family that you are guaranteed to love. Overall, this story delivers on everything you like in an Irene Bahrd book, but she gives us a little extra heart on this one. I really liked it.
🥃
This story hit a little harder than Irene’s other romances, because of the MS (Multiple Sclerosis) angle. Our MMC’s mother has progressive MS and our FMC has relapse-remitting MS, the latter being something I confront constantly because I’m a caretaker for my close family member who’s been diagnosed for over 20 years. With this representation in Sage’s love story, I was instantly drawn in and Irene delivered a sweet story about loving someone with a disability. Although Sage feels like her diagnosis makes her difficult or a burden to love, she is shown how, those who truly love unconditionally, won’t let MS or any challenges that stem from it, stop them from sharing their love and support.
These thoughts might lean on the emotional side, don’t let that fool you. Yes, Irene delivers a deep, moving story about real-world struggles someone with a disability, especially with MS, deals with in trying to not burden their loved ones with the symptoms of their disability. And yes, that hit close to home (literally) for me and my personal experience. But she also keeps her classic scenes of spicy spice and parody humor. Plus, she threw in a fictional country nestled between England and Scotland (imagine that... can I visit there please? And maybe snag me a husband? 😉) with a modern royal family that you are guaranteed to love. Overall, this story delivers on everything you like in an Irene Bahrd book, but she gives us a little extra heart on this one. I really liked it.
🥃
“Sage, have you ever been in love? Because I thought I had, but it was nothing compared to how I feel about you. MS doesn’t scare me. Flare ups don’t scare me. You needing me definitely doesn’t scare me. You don’t scare me. So, this—you and me—shouldn’t scare you.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Chronic illness, Cursing, and Terminal illness
Minor: Misogyny, Death of parent, and Alcohol
The chronic/terminal illness mentioned in this book is Multiple Sclerosis. Two characters have this diagnosis, at different stages of progression, and are explained in detail.