Royally Matched by Emma Chase (Royally #2)
Released: February 21, 2017
Contemporary Romance
Self Published

Reviewed by Mandi

A wild-child heir to the throne and a shy librarian?? This is my candy – although it’s not quite as good as book one. (but almost!)

Henry is the second-son in the royal Wessco family but after his older brother abdicated for true love in the last book, the burden of becoming King falls to Henry. And oh how happy he is *insert all the sarcasm* Henry doesn’t really care for responsibility. He likes women and alcohol…and more women and more alcohol. His grandmother, the Queen, is alive and well, but she is elderly and she knows Henry must take this job seriously. She starts to have him read, and read, and read and even sends him to a remote castle to get his head on straight. Henry tries to behave and learn but he gets bored at this castle and when Henry is bored – naughty things happen.

Sarah Mirabelle Zinnia Von Titebottumis a librarian and when I say she has a passion for books, it’s an understatement. Her name is also a source of great amusement for others…in particular our hero:

“See you around, Titty-bottom”

Growing up with an abusive father, she turned to books and their fantasy worlds for escape. Jane Austen, Emily Bronte are her world and she retreats into these book often. She enjoys comparing her life to the books she reads:

My eyes snap up to his, and hold.

There are meetings in books that stand out, that alter the course of the story. Profound encounters between characters when one soul seems to say to the other, “There you are – I’ve been looking for you.”

Her sister Penelope is the opposite of her. Where Sarah is shy and never wants attention, Penelope is outgoing and wants to be an actress – but they are very close. Besides being shy, Sarah has a condition where she blacks out when she hears a loud noise (like breaking glass). This just adds to Sarah’s overall quiet and shy demeanor. She also has grace and can have a witty tongue.

Remember how I said Henry was bored in the remote castle? Well, he decides to host a reality television show – like The Bachelor but the royal edition. Going behind the Queen’s back, he starts a super secret filming of the show. Penelope gets wind of this and begs her mother to let her go on as a contestant. Her mother allows it, only if Sarah goes as Penelope’s assistant, to keep an eye on her crazy sister. As Sarah sits to the side watching the contestants drool all over Henry, she is the one that catches his eyes, and an adorable romance develops.

When I first read that a reality dating show takes place in this book, I may have rolled my eyes but Emma Chase does make it work. I’m not a huge fan of The Bachelor, but Sarah isn’t a contestant and that made me happy.

Both Sarah and Henry grow up in this book. At first glance, you would think Sarah is grown because she is mature and serious and seems to have her life together. But you will understand her journey once you learn more of her back story. Fear holds her back from truly experiencing life, and Henry helps her overcome that. Her references to her favorite characters from her favorite books will make you smile. She fears Henry is a Willoughby (from Sense & Sensibility) and is desperate to find a Colonel Brandon.

“I can’t be with you.”

“You’re with me right now.”

She shakes her head. “Not in that way.”

“Of course you can. I think you’re amazing.”

She looks up at me then, with fear and sadness slashed across her face. “You do now, but you’re a Willoughby.”

I scratch my head. “Isn’t that like, a kangaroo?”

She squeezes her eyes tight and it’s almost like she’s stuttering. Like she can’t make the words come out. And when they do, I wish they’d stayed where they were.

“No, a Willoughby—from Sense and Sensibility. He was the character Marianne fell in love with. He was wild and inappropriate, selfish and thoughtless, and he crushed her.”

“Sarah, you’re not making any sense.”

“I can’t be with you because I’m waiting for a Colonel Brandon.”

“Who the fuck is Brandon?”

She categorizes everyone, another way she keeps her distance from people. Henry dares her to try new things and to let go of old things, and it really enhances her life.

During the reality show, Henry takes refuge in Sarah’s bedroom to escape the crazy contestants and constant video recorders. They sleep in the same bed but it’s innocent…at least at first. Sarah takes pity on poor Henry who can’t escape all the female attention he has brought upon himself. They have cute banter:

“Sleep well, Henry.”

And something about the way she says my name this time—the sweetness of her voice—makes me smile. Until . . .

“Hmm, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, hmmmmm, hmm, hmm . . .”

And I’m once again staring at the ceiling. “What is that sound?”

“What? Oh, that’s me—sorry—I hum when I read.” The bed shakes as she shrugs. “Habit.”

“Well for Christ’s sake, don’t.”

I’m being an arse. When she doesn’t reply for a few seconds, I start to worry I’ve upset her. It’s not Sarah’s fault I’m tired—and horny. So horny. She doesn’t deserve to have her head ripped off.

But before I can apologize, she says, “And here I thought you were the type who’d enjoy a good hummer.”

And for a moment I’m stunned. And then I laugh, turning on my side, facing her. “Was that a joke, Sarah Titty-teet-butt-um?”

Henry just has to grow up, plain and simple. He too is scared to become king. He looks to his older brother with such love, it’s hard for Henry to feel confident in his upcoming role. But he gets there. Henry is a good guy – he may be a womanizer at first, but once he sees Sarah, there is no other woman for him. He teases her and makes her laugh. Throw in his uber sexiness, and it’s a great romance. Their courtship is really fun.

Conflict comes in with some of the reality show girls – jealousy flares as you would predict and maybe had the reality show not been involved, I would have loved this book as much as book one – but I like how it all works out in the end. And the very end of the book had a somewhat surprising turn of events. There is a solid HEA, but it path to it is a longer journey. I appreciated that.

Grade: B

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