The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan

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From Forever Romance:

"I might be Cinderella today, but I dread who they'll think I am tomorrow. I guess it depends on what I do next."

American Rebecca Porter was never one for fairy tales. Her twin sister, Lacey, has always been the romantic who fantasized about glamour and royalty, fame and fortune. Yet it's Bex who seeks adventure at Oxford and finds herself living down the hall from Prince Nicholas, Great Britain's future king. And when Bex can't resist falling for Nick, the person behind the prince, it propels her into a world she did not expect to inhabit, under a spotlight she is not prepared to face.

Dating Nick immerses Bex in ritzy society, dazzling ski trips, and dinners at Kensington Palace with him and his charming, troublesome brother, Freddie. But the relationship also comes with unimaginable baggage: hysterical tabloids, Nick's sparkling and far more suitable ex-girlfriends, and a royal family whose private life is much thornier and more tragic than anyone on the outside knows. The pressures are almost too much to bear, as Bex struggles to reconcile the man she loves with the monarch he's fated to become.

Which is how she gets into trouble.

Now, on the eve of the wedding of the century, Bex is faced with whether everything she's sacrificed for love-her career, her home, her family, maybe even herself-will have been for nothing.

The Bad:

This book was loooonnngg.  It felt like it should have been two books.  There's a perfect breaking point and everything.  I also thought it would be more humorous, like the Fug Girls' YA book, but it's not really a humorous story.

The Good:

Prince Charming of course!  Honestly, I could take or leave Bex, I mean she's great - a fairly strong, capable woman, but, I really loved Nick and Freddie.  Nick is the honorable good guy, and then there's the lovable rogue, Freddie, our Princes Charming.  *sigh*

We LOVE the Fug Girls!  Their blog keeps us endlessly entertained and can perk up the worst days.  If you haven't read their books yet, you really need to!

The Royal We is about real relationships in a fairytale setting.  You cannot have a more fairy tale scenario than the ordinary girl becoming a Princess, but Bex, Nick, Freddie and Lacey are dealing with real relationship issues.  Outside influences and expectations, compromise, loss of identity, lies, jealousy, bitterness, loss, really the whole host of human relationships...  The contrast is actually fascinating - real relationship problems in a fairy tale setting, because more often than not, romance novels are fairytale relationships in a more real world setting.  It's the relationships that kept me engrossed in this book.

TRW is good read and if you are mad about Will and Kate, or just love a Cinderella story, this book is for you.  

~Shel

That's What HE Said Thursday #26

Image courtesy of Kei at The Lovely Pages Review

That's What HE Said is a weekly meme hosted by the wonderful ladies at Chapter Break. It's a chance for us to spotlight and gush over a quote from our current book crush to the object of his desire. We like to pretend it's us ;)

What better way to celebrate our book boyfriends?

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Oh do we have something special for you!! We are huge, HUGE fans of Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan aka The Fug Girls. We love their site, www.gofugyourself.com which can always be relied upon for a good laugh. And we've loved their two previous books, Spoiled and Messy. Recently, Shel read their new adult novel, The Royal We. As we have come to expect from them, it was hysterical and tons of fun! 

So for That's What HE Said Thursday this week, we're not only sharing Shel's favourite quote from the book, we're also giving YOU the chance to win yourself a copy of the The Royal We. 5 copies are up for grabs people! (Quick shout out to Grand Central Publishing for generously providing the copies.) Giveaway is open to US residents only.

Read below, enter and help us spread the joy! Good luck!

"It doesn't matter.  It can't matter," he said "Because I am completely, utterly, irrevocably in love with you.  And if you feel the same, then please don't ever get over me and go back to normal."  
His left hand snaked around my waist.  
"Besides, Bex, you've never been normal."

~ Nick to Bex

The Royal We by

Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Waiting on Wednesday (142)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that highlights future releases that we are excitedly anticipating.

There are so many great books coming out over the next few months that our heads are spinning!

By Karina Halle
Publication Date: March 31, 2015

A new adult novel that perfectly captures the existential angst of your early twenties with raw wit, fresh insight, and true feeling from a critically adored USA TODAY bestselling author.

Joshua Miles has spent his early twenties spinning his wheels. Working dead-end jobs and living at home has left him exhausted and uninspired, with little energy to pursue his passion for graphic art. Until he meets Gemma Henare, a vivacious out-of-towner from New Zealand. What begins as a one-night stand soon becomes a turning point for Josh. He can't get Gemma out of his head, even after she has left for home, and finds himself throwing caution to the wind for the first time in his life.

It's not long before Josh is headed to New Zealand with only a backpack, some cash, and Gemma's name to go on. But when he finally tracks her down, he finds his adventure is only just beginning. Equally infatuated, Gemma leads him on a whirlwind tour across the beautiful country, opening Josh up to life, lust, love, and all the messy heartache in between. Because, when love drags you somewhere, it might never let go even when you know you have to say goodbye.

By Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan
Publication Date: April 7th, 2015

"I might be Cinderella today, but I dread who they'll think I am tomorrow. I guess it depends on what I do next." 

American Rebecca Porter was never one for fairy tales. Her twin sister, Lacey, has always been the romantic who fantasized about glamour and royalty, fame and fortune. Yet it's Bex who seeks adventure at Oxford and finds herself living down the hall from Prince Nicholas, Great Britain's future king. And when Bex can't resist falling for Nick, the person behind the prince, it propels her into a world she did not expect to inhabit, under a spotlight she is not prepared to face.

Dating Nick immerses Bex in ritzy society, dazzling ski trips, and dinners at Kensington Palace with him and his charming, troublesome brother, Freddie. But the relationship also comes with unimaginable baggage: hysterical tabloids, Nick's sparkling and far more suitable ex-girlfriends, and a royal family whose private life is much thornier and more tragic than anyone on the outside knows. The pressures are almost too much to bear, as Bex struggles to reconcile the man she loves with the monarch he's fated to become.

Which is how she gets into trouble.

Now, on the eve of the wedding of the century, Bex is faced with whether everything she's sacrificed for love-her career, her home, her family, maybe even herself-will have been for nothing.

By Jill Shalvis
Publication Date: April 7, 2015

Darcy Stone is game for anything — except sexy Navy veteran and physical therapist A.J. Colten, the guy who'd rejected her when she'd needed him most. Now the shoe is on the other foot and he needs her to play nice and help him secure grants for his patients. Unfortunately, Darcy can't refuse. She needs the money to fund her passion project: rescuing S&R dogs and placing them with emotionally wounded soldiers.

A.J. admits it — Darcy is irresistible. But he's already been battle-scarred by a strong-willed, vivacious, adventurous woman like Darcy, and he's not making the same mistake twice—until he and Darcy are forced to fake a relationship. Growing closer than they'd ever imagined possible, Darcy and AJ have to ask themselves: how much between them is pretend? What's the real thing? And where does it go from here?